Carrefour has revealed better than expected results, delivering a rise in net income of 1.2 per cent to €750 million (£603.4 million) for the first half of this year.

Sales climbed 8.5 per cent at constant exchange rates at the world’s second largest retailer; its strongest first half growth since 2005.

Carrefour said the results show its international multi-format, single-brand strategy is “paying off”.

Like-for-like sales at its French supermarkets rose 5.9 per cent in the period, while hard discount stores increased 2.5 per cent and convenience stores were up 2.7 per cent. Hypermarket sales fell 0.9 per cent.

Sales in the rest of Europe grew faster than the same period last year and sales at its Latin American operations rocketed 41.8 per cent.

Carrefour chief executive officer José Luis Durán said: “These are Carrefour’s best first half results since 2005. The group has robust fundamentals, with a business model focused primarily on food, a balanced portfolio of formats, leading positions in the countries where it operates and a sound balance sheet.

“In an uncertain and challenging environment, the implementation of the operational action plan we announced in July makes me confident that we will achieve our 2008 objectives.”

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