The company reported a headline earnings per share, the main profit measure in SA, of 917.9 cents for the year ended September 30, up from 826.0 cents posted a year earlier.

"The operating environment across our territories continues to be challenging with ongoing inflationary pressures in food, fuel and energy," the company, which also has operations in the United Kingdom and Ireland, said in a statement.

But these pressures are showing signs of easing in some areas, SPAR added.

The company which sold its loss-making Polish business in September, did not declare a dividend for the year.

--Reuters--