Pets at Home has cautioned that “urgent and necessary” measures are needed to turn around the firm’s retail arm as the group revealed half-year profits tumbled by more than a third.

Ian Burke, who took over as interim executive chairman after chief executive Lyssa McGowan quit abruptly in September, said the group was “returning to our retailing roots” as he looks to revive the chain’s fortunes.

Pets at Home’s retail business saw underlying profits plummet by 84.1% to £3.5 million in the six months to October 9, offsetting a resilient performance from the vet business and leaving overall group profits down 33.5% to £36.2 million.

Mr Burke said: “For over 30 years, Pets at Home has been a business with a clear purpose, an established market and loyal customer base, but it’s clear that

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