J Sainsbury said on Wednesday that its total retail sales for the full year to 22 March 2008 had risen 5.8 per cent to £19,287 million. The supermarket chain said that like for like sales were up 3.9 per cent.

Underlying pre-tax profit for Sainsbury's was reported as being £488 million, up 28.4 per cent on the previous year. Basic earnings per share fell marginally from 19.2 pence in 2007 down to 19.1 pence.

The company said its full year dividend was up 23.1 per cent to 12 pence per share.

Sainsbury's said that it had exceeded a number of key targets as part of its Making Sainsbury's Great Again campaign. The company sales growth was £2.7 billion, exceeding its target of £2.5 billion. Sainsbury's also said it had gained 2.5 million customers in the last year.

Retail sales United kingdom