(06:01 GMT) *J Sainsbury Backs FY27 View (06:02 GMT) *J Sainsbury Sees FY Total Underlying Operating Profit Between GBP975M-GBP1.075B (06:02 GMT) *J Sainsbury Sees FY Retail Free Cash Flow of More Than GBP500M (06:03 GMT) *J Sainsbury 1Q Grocery Sales Up 3.6% (06:04 GMT) *J Sainsbury 1Q General Merchandise And Clothing Sales Down 3.7% (06:04 GMT) *J Sainsbury 1Q Argos Sales Down 0.5% (06:05 GMT) *J Sainsbury 1Q Total Retail Sales Excl. Fuel Up 2.7% (06:05 GMT) *J Sainsbury 1Q LFL Sales Exc. Fuel Up 2.1% (06:06 GMT) *J Sainsbury: Impact of Middle East on Customers, Business Remains Uncertain (06:07 GMT) *J Sainsbury: Had Encouraging Start to the Year With Continued Volume Growth (06:29 GMT) Sainsbury's Posts Sales Growth But Warns of Iran War Uncertainty
By Adam Whittaker
J Sainsbury backed its full-year guidance after posting first-quarter sales growth, but warned that the impact of the Middle East conflict on its customers and business remains uncertain.
The British grocer on Tuesday said it continues to expect a full-year underlying operating profit of between 975 million and 1.075 billion pounds ($1.29 billion-$1.43 billion). Retail free cash flow is expected to be more than 500 million pounds.
It backed its guidance after posting a 2.1% on-year rise in like-for-like sales excluding fuel for the 16 weeks ended June 20.
The company said more customers are doing their large weekly shop at Sainsbury's, delivering continued volume growth.
Total retail sales excluding fuel for the period increased 2.7% on year to 9.15 billion pounds, while grocery sales rose 3.6% to 7.6 billion pounds.
However, general merchandise and clothing sales dropped 3.7% and its Argos unit posted a 0.5% fall in sales.
Write to Adam Whittaker at adam.whittaker@wsj.com