Mercator's profit increased by 1 per cent during the first nine months of the year to €36.4m, with group net sales increasing 13 per cent to €2bn.

Slovenia's largest food retailer said that results were boosted by a jump in sales from outlets outside the domestic market, which increased 34 per cent on a year-on-year basis. Domestic sales rose slightly, up 5 per cent compared with 2007.

'Despite a serious worsening of the conditions in the banking sector due to the global financial crisis, the financial operations of Mercator are undisturbed,' the group said in a statement.