Operating profits rose from 151 million last year to 154 million on overall revenue up from 1.4 billion to 1.6 billion.

Overall revenue, including new store openings, was up by 2.6 per cent.

With higher prices and faster sales, overall revenue more than tripled.

More than 80 per cent of firms told the society that their cash flow and overall revenue had fallen since the outbreak of the pandemic.

It still accounted for the majority of the group's overall revenue of €5 billion.