Xero, the cloud-based accounting software firm, added 36,000 customers since the end of March and is predicting an 80 percent pickup in annual sales as it continues its drive for global growth, which will widen the loss at the end of the year. Chief executive Rod Drury told shareholders in Wellington today the company has 193,000 customers, that’s up from …

Briscoe Group, the homeware and sporting goods retail chain, anticipates 9.7 percent growth in first-half profit as second-quarter sales continued to grow across both segments and margins widen. Net profit rose to at least $14.6 million in the six months ended July 28 from $13.3 million a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement. That was on the …

Di Humphries, the former boss of Hallenstein Glasson’s women’s wear chain, is seen as a strong contender for the top job at children’s clothing retailer Pumpkin Patch after chief executive Neil Cowie resigned this week to lead Mitre 10 (New Zealand). Pumpkin Patch poached Humphries, a retailing industry veteran, from Hallenstein last year to be its merchandise and brand manager, …