For these six months, Marks & Spencer's pre-tax profits were flat at £306.7 million ($508.5 million) on revenues that rose 2.8 percent to £4.3 billion ($7.1 billion).

"I think we've been through the worst of the downturn," says Sir Stuart Rose, chief executive of Marks & Spencer. Sales rose 1.8 percent in the U.K. for the retailer, despite like-for-likes which dropped 0.9 percent. International sales jumped 12.2 percent, while online sales increased by 29 percent.

Marks & Spencer has also announced that it will stock branded groceries like Marmite and Persil in all its stores after a trial in some areas of the U.K. Until now the retailer has had an own-brand-only policy.

In other retail news, independent toy chain The Entertainer has announced it will be opening up to 50 new shops over the next four years after posting strong like-for-like growth in all areas of the business. And Carrefour has announced the departure of Guy Yraeta, executive committee member, head of its European activity (excluding France).