Business news with words chain+profits. 60 or more news.

Drugstore chain Walgreen Co. used cost-cutting to help it overcome tougher economic conditions in its fiscal first quarter, reporting a modest 5.5 percent profit increase Friday that surpassed Wall Street's expectations. The Deerfield, Ill.-based company also stepped up its already rapid expansion pace, opening a record 169 new stores to rocket past the 6,000 mark. Walgreen's earnings bump over the same quarter a year ago was notable in the face of challenges that have cut into the profits other pharmacy retailers. Net earnings for the September-through-October period were $455.5 million, or 46 cents a share, up from $431.7 million, or 43 cents a share, in the same period a year earlier. That was 2 cents a share above the consensus estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial. Revenue rose 10 percent to $14 billion from $12.7 billion, slightly below the $14.11 billion expected by analysts.

Drugstore chain Walgreen Co. reported a 5.5 percent gain in first-quarter profits Friday, benefiting from cost cuts and sales of private-label products as consumers sought out low-price goods.

Fashion chain's profits warning comes as estimated ?100m wiped off investor's retail portfolio in past year, writes Richard Fletcher.

Shares in Moss Bros fell sharply yesterday after the menswear chain became the latest high street retailer to issue a profits warning before the crucial Christ-mas period.

Pubs chain Greene King overcame rising costs and the smoking ban to deliver profits growth of 7 per cent in the first six months of its financial year yesterday.

The cloud hanging over the UK economy turned a shade darker yesterday as three companies dependent on consumer spending each issued profits warnings. Shares dived in Clapham House, the restaurant group behind Tootsies and the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, ScS Upholstery, the furniture store chain, and Regent Inns, owner of the Walkabout and Jongleurs bars, as all three warned of a serious slowdown in sales.

The pub group Marston's reported a nasty hit to its annual profits after 150 of its pubs were closed in the summer following severe flooding across parts of the country. However, shares in the Pitcher & Piano chain owner jumped 3 per cent yesterday after it reported a 10 per cent rise in earnings per share to 26p alongside figures marginally ahead of City expectations.

Mitchells & Butlers, the pub company behind the All Bar One chain, has seen its profits wiped out after the credit crunch put paid to attempts to spin off its property estate.

Kingfisher, the home improvement retailer and the company behind the B&Q chain, announced a drop in profits yesterday, saying that UK consumer demand is likely to "soften further".

Kingfisher, owner of the B&Q DIY chain, refused to rule out cutting its dividend yesterday after third-quarter profits in Britain fell nearly 12 per cent and dragged down strong trading across the rest of the group.

Signet, the London-quoted jewellery chain, relies on the US for 75% of its sales; with American homeowners feeling the pinch, it was inevitable that spending on rings and trinkets would be among the first casualties. So it has turned out: the retailer, with a market capitalisation of £1.1bn ($2.3bn; E1.5bn), gave warning this week that a marked deterioration in trading meant it would miss its profit targets for the year. Operating profit in America came in at $11.5m in the three months to 3 November, down from $19.1m in the same period in 2006. Like-for-like US sales have fallen 7%

Profits at Asda rose in 2006 as customers flocked back to the chain, boosting sales by almost ?1bn.

Heal's, the upmarket furniture chain, has shaved a third off the £7.2m loss reported last year.

The childcare retailer Mothercare upped its green credentials with the introduction of an environmentally friendly nappy yesterday as it posted a 52 per cent drop in pre-tax profits after its acquisition of the Early Learning Centre chain.

MOTHERCARE's profits have taken a hit following its acquisition of the Early Learning Centre in May.

Gap, the nation's largest clothing chain, and Abercrombie & Fitch, a popular shopping spot for teens and college students, reported profits above analysts' estimates after they cut expenses to cope with slowing sales.

Clothing chain Gap reports a 26% rise in profits, after cost-cutting and restructuring help offset falling sales.

Retail and property entrepreneur Julian Richer collected a ?3m dividend as profits at retail chain Richer Sounds soared.

The ramen restaurant chain is winning devoted fans—and earning millions—by opening up noodle shops across mainland China

Stage Stores Inc., the Houston-based chain of clothiers including Palais Royal, said today third-quarter profits sank by 13 percent to $2.4 million and announced a stock buyback plan.