Marks & Spencer Profits Up

In its last year under the leadership of Rose, Marks & Spencer has improved its performance, demonstrating, as Rose says, "the resilience of the M&S brand."

Marks & Spencer reports that it had retained its position as Britain's leading clothing retailer, increasing its market share by 30-basis points to 11 percent. It also remained the nation's favorite womenswear retailer, with market share edging up from 10.5 percent to 10.7 percent.

Like-for-like food sales had fallen in the first quarter and were flat in the second quarter, but they returned to growth for the first time in two years in the third and fourth quarters as the company introduced "Wise Buys" price-cut food items.