The Co-operative Group has announced a 30 per cent increase in profits, on the back of strong performances from its food, pharmacy and funerals businesses.

The latest results, which cover the 28 weeks to July 28, are for The Co-operative Group pre-amalgamation and do not include figures from United Co-operatives.

Co-operative Food saw sales rise 4.6 per cent to £1.7 billion, while profit was up 16.9 per cent, at £64.4m.

Like-for-like sales rose 5.2 per cent, against a 3.5 per cent increase in the IGD index, which is the industry benchmark, and 7.8 per cent for the Group’s convenience stores.

The performance, which represented the sixth consecutive quarter of like-for-like growth, was driven by increases in both the number of transactions and basket size.

Peter Marks, chief executive at The Co-operative Group, said: “We have made a good start to the year. During the first half, sales and profits in some of our biggest businesses - food, pharmacy and funerals - were excellent. Our food sales, in particular, were strong, building on our recent good performance with a like-for-like increase that was well ahead of the market.”

Marks,who has led the group since the merger with United Co-operatives, of which he was previously chief executive, said the combined businesses were in a great position going forward. “With the successful merger of The Co-operative Group and United Co-operatives now complete, and the new top management team in place, we look forward to continuing to drive the business,” he added. “The markets in which we operate remain intensely competitive, but we are confident of making further progress in the second half of the year.”