Animal print skirts boost sales at Zara

ZARA owner Inditex posted a jump in sales and profits as shoppers flocked to stores and snapped up statement earrings and animal print skirts.

Inditex, which also owns Bershka, Massimo Dutti and Pull & Bear, bucked the High Street gloom to post a 4pc rise in same-store sales in the year to the end of January.

The world’s largest retailer, formed after billionaire Amancio Ortega founded Zara in 1975 with his wife, Rosalia Mera, has become a huge hit with fashion-conscious shoppers. Its products include white strappy mules which sell for £29.99 online and £80 linen blazers.

Profits at the group were up 2pc to £3.4bn, while revenues grew 3.2pc to £22.4bn. Online sales soared 27pc to £2.8bn.

It added 370 outlets to High Streets across the world last year. It now has 7,490 shops and expects to open a further 300 this year. Inditex hiked its dividend 17pc to 76p per share and will give investors a bonus dividend of €1 per share.