Sales within Next's newest large-format Home & Fashion stores smashed their targets in the first half of the retailer's year.
Results for the six months to the end of July 2015 show that while sales in fashion-only stores that were opened in the previous year came in at 2.4% above target, those in new Home & Fashion outlets achieved sales 15.9% above predictions.

Next also revealed that the Home & Fashion stores - which have a two-storey standalone Home store adjacent to a fashion store - are forecast to deliver 25.2% profitability, against 21.9% for the fashion-only stores.

Total retail sales were up just 0.2% year on year, to £1,083.0m; retail operating profit rose 5.7%.

Total sales within the Next Group, which also includes Next Directory and Next Brand, were up 2.7% year on year, to £1,907.4m.