Fast Retailing Co. saw sales and profits surge for the business year that ended in August thanks to brisk sales buoyed by the opening of new Uniqlo outlets in Japan and the acquisition of domestic and foreign retail brands.

The operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain said Thursday that its group net profit during the September-August period grew 19.3 percent year on year to 40.4 billion yen while its operating profit surged 24.1 percent to 70.3 billion yen.

Consolidated sales rose 17 percent to 448.8 billion yen.