Delivery chain Domino's Pizza said today it was "well-placed" for the year after wet weather and successful product launches boosted sales.
The group, which serves a network of 470 franchises in Britain and Ireland, said profits before tax increased 35 per cent to £8.3 million in the 26 weeks to July 1st, fuelling confidence that it will exceed profit hopes for the full year.
The six-month period included the company's second most successful launch on record, following the debut of the "Meateor" pizza, while a Simpsons-themed pizza and two new side orders also drove up average ticket sales.
Domino's faced tough comparisons because of the World Cup in 2006, but cooler temperatures and increased rainfall meant like-for-like sales from 404 stores open for more than year were up 14.9 per cent on a year earlier.
Shares rose by more than 3 per cent, and the company raised its profit forecasts for the third time this year.