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Discount retailer Colruyt has seen consolidated net sales climb through the opening quarter of fiscal 2012/13, as the group initiated an additional discount campaign on 500 basic products on top of its lowest prices and Extra discounts.

For the period ended 30 June 2012, sales jumped 5.5 per cent to €2.05bn from €1.94bn in the same period of 2011/12.

Revenue from the group's retail business activity grew by 4.3 per cent to €2.55bn, while wholesale and foodservice activities climbed 6.8 per cent.

The good start to 2012/13 follows on from improvements in both overall group revenue and full-year earnings during the 2011/12 financial year, when year-on-year revenue jumped 7.8 per cent, from €7.28bn to €7.85bn, and full-year net earnings grew 1.5 per cent to €343m.

In its outlook for 2012/13, the group had said: 'The economic context and weakening consumer climate suggest a challenging year ahead for us, as for all retailers.'