Profits power ahead at Giorgio Armani in 2010

Giorgio Armani, the designer goods firm, has posted a surge in profits and sales, despite "difficult trading" conditions.

It grew operating profit by 47.5 per cent to €321.6m, on revenues up by 4.6 per cent to €1.59bn. Giorgio Armani, the chairman, said: "In these difficult trading conditions our strategy has remained focused on maintaining high-quality distribution and satisfying rapid changes in consumer demands."