Like-for-like sales at Tesco stores in Ireland were down 3.9 per cent in the first quarter of the year when compared to last year, according to the British retailer. The poor Irish performance pulled down like-for-like sales across its European operations to 2 per cent from 2.4 per cent.

The group, which runs more than 5,000 stores in 14 countries, said group sales rose 6.7 per cent excluding petrol, helped by a stronger performance in most of its overseas markets compared with the previous quarter. Like-for-like sales were up 2 per cent in other European markets, up 3.2 per cent in Asia and up 11.1 per cent in the US, where Tesco is aiming to break into profit by the end of fiscal 2012-13 after years of heavy losses.

The supermarket group, which does not disclose the profit margins it makes in the Republic, said sales at British stores open at least a year fell 0.1 per cent, excluding petrol and VAT changes, in the first quarter of its financial year. – (Reuters)