Briscoe posts 10 percent gain in annual profit, says cautiously optimistic about the year ahead

Briscoe posts 10 percent  gain in annual profit, says cautiously optimistic about the year ahead
By Tina Morrison March 6 (BusinessDesk) – Briscoe Group, which posted a 10 percent gain in annual profit, said it is “cautiously optimistic” about the year ahead as many retailers struggle to grow earnings. Net profit rose to $33.6 million in the 52 weeks ended Jan. 26, from $30.5 million a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement. That’s in line with its most recent forecast in January that profit would exceed $33 million, although below the $34.1 million mean forecast of analysts polled by Reuters. Sales rose 6.8 percen...