JD Sports heads for £1bn profits as it says trainers are ‘affordable luxury’

Retailer to step up expansion in US and Europe as price rises help increase bottom line

JD Sports has said it is on track to hit £1bn of profits this year as it steps up expansion in the US and Europe in a bet that the trend for trainers and sports leisurewear will roll on.

Régis Schultz, the retail group’s chief executive who took over last summer, said JD’s young shoppers had more opportunity to get work, amid staff shortages in all its key markets, and “whenever they get a job they can buy the gear they love”.