South African supermarket operator Shoprite Holdings has booked an increase in first-half sales, boosted by higher domestic sales and a weaker rand.

Revenues in the six months to the end of December climbed 6.9% on a like-for-like basis, the Cape Town-based company said yesterday (14 January). Growth was driven by a 6.2% increase in sales from South Africa, its biggest market. International sales rose 28%, due in part to a declining rand.

Group sales in the period amounted to ZAR46.7bn (US$5.32bn), a 13.8% increase on last year.

Shoprite will publish its full financial results on 19 February.