J Sainsbury, the British supermarket giant, has reported a 6 per cent increase in sales growth for the second quarter of the year after previously warning of a potential slowdown in trading.

The group did not disclose profits figures in the latest results but said its improved trading performance had been the result of a cost-cutting programme and the success of its store refurbishment initiative in the UK.

The UK's second largest food retailer has just seven stores in the North, compared to British rivals Tesco, which has 36 stores and Safeway, which currently has 12 stores.