The owner of Primark says higher gas prices are expected to hit profits in its sugar operations, even as it reports resilience in recent trading. According to the company’s latest update covered by outlets including the Belfast Telegraph and The Independent, trading during the most recent quarter remains resilient. However, the business faces challenging retail conditions across most markets. The update indicates that while demand and performance have held up better than feared in retail, rising energy costs—particularly gas—could affect margins in its sugar arm. The company’s messaging balances ongoing pressure from the broader retail environment with a specific concern around input costs for sugar production. While the exact scale of the expected profit impact is not detailed in the provided excerpts, both reports point to weaker profit prospects linked to gas prices as the key factor to watch. Overall, the sources present a picture of steady near-term trading in Primark’s wider operations alongside clear uncertainty created by energy costs and difficult consumer conditions.