Womenswear retailer Specialty Fashion Group expects first-half profit to nearly triple due to cost savings and improved sales.
The owner of the Katies and Millers fashion stores said on Friday it expects net profit for the six months to December 31 to be in the range of $A17 - $A18 million.
AAP reports that would be a significant increase from its $A6.2 million profit posted in the corresponding period last year.
Sales in the group's 892 stores in the six months to December were up 2% on the previous corresponding period, and revenue of $A311.2 million was up 1.3% from the same period last year.
In a statement, chief executive Gary Perlstein said changes in the company's supply chain had delivered reduced product cost prices and freight costs. Falling cotton prices also reduced the cost of fabrics, he said.
