Debenhams' profits plunge by 85pc - bitten by the 'Beast from the East' and a poor Christmas

The retailer said its bottom-line pre-tax profits fell from £87.8 million to just £13.5 million over the 26 weeks to March 3, having taken a major hit during the final days of the trading period when bad weather forced Debenhams – which recently opened a flagship store in Wolverhampton's Mander Centre – to temporarily close around 100 branches.

It also has outlets at Walsall, Merry Hill, Lichfield, Telford and in Birmingham's Bullring.

On an underlying basis – having been stripped of £28.7 million in exceptional costs linked to its strategic review and restructuring – pre-tax profits slumped 51.9 per cent to £42.2 million.

That was below analysts' forecasts, which had placed pre-tax profits at around £44 million.

Debenhams also blamed a "disappointing Christmas season" for increasing competitor discounting and ultimately hitting underlying earnings for the UK, which fell 39.3 per cent over the half-year.

Like-for-like sales, meanwhile, dropped 2.2 per cent, with the retailer citing a "challenging UK market background".

Difficult trading over Christmas prompted a profit warning by the retailer back in January, sending shares down 20 per cent.

It is now forecasting full-year pre-tax profits at the lower end of the current range of forecasts of between £50 million to £61 million.

Chief executive Sergio Bucher said: "It has not been an easy first half and the extreme weather in the final week of the half had a material impact on our results.

"But I am hugely encouraged by the progress we are making to transform Debenhams for our customers."

He added: "We are holding share in a difficult fashion market, and, in other categories such as furniture, exciting new partnerships have the potential to transform our offer.

"We approach the remainder of the year mindful of the very challenging market conditions, but with confidence that we have a strong team and the right plan to navigate them and return Debenhams to profitable growth."

Debenhams and other retailers are facing severe structural pressures and the firm has started shifting its focus away from fashion towards beauty products and gifts.

Under chief executive Mr Bucher, who joined the retailer in 2016, the chain has also been refurbishing stores as part of his turnaround strategy.

The retailer also announced on Thursday that its chief financial officer, Matt Smith, is leaving to take up a post as finance director at Selfridges.

A search for his replacement is currently under way.

Debenhams shares tumbled as much as 10 per cent at the start of trading.

Russ Mould, an investment director at AJ Bell, said Debenham's full-year profit forecast amounts to a "mild profit warning, given prior management guidance of £55 million to £65 million range".

"And that excludes the £28.7 million in additional costs and charges relating to the acceleration of the Redesigned strategy.

"This latest drop in annual profits will only add to a grim sequence of declines which makes it clear just how serious Debenhams' competitive position really is."

The retailer has closed two stores since October in a bid to reduce costs associated with rent and business rates, and has identified a further 10 across the country that could be shut down in due course.

However, the company is tied into long-term leases in many of its stores, meaning it must shed staff to save on costs.

In February, 320 staff were made redundant in a shake-up of middle-management.