UK’s Debenhams Returns to Profit after Five Years, Expects Further Cost Cuts

British fashion ‌retailer Debenhams , also known as boohoo, reported a profit for the first time in five years on Friday and expects further cost cuts as a turnaround plan gathers pace. Here are some more details: -The company reported pretax profit of £28.3 million ($37.89 million) for the six ‌months ended August ‌31, compared to a ‌loss ⁠of £17.9 million a year ⁠ago, its first profit before tax since August 2021. -Expects to reduce costs related to depreciation, lease and interest in fiscal year 2028, while a new financial ⁠facility should further cut costs. -Debt ‌to be ‌negligible by the end of the ‌year thanks to the disposal of ‌Sheffield automation and lease assignment and sale of Nasty Gal brand, the retailer said. -The company reported steady growth ‌in September and reiterated its previous annual forecast of gross merchandise value (GMV) ⁠growth ⁠and adjusted core profit no less than £59 million. -It expects to deliver more than £100 million in profit before tax in the medium term and become a multi-billion-pound GMV business. -The group's turnaround plan has been focused on streamlining its operations to tackle mounting debt and slow demand at its youth brands.