Kentucky Fried Chicken (Bermuda) Ltd. boosted its profits by more than $30,000 for the first half of this year.

The fast food company announced net income of $139,728 for the first six months of 2008 compared with $107,164 for the same period in 2007.

In April 2007, the KFC kitchen was closed for two weeks for renovations and increases in selling prices also boosted results.

Sales in the six months ended July 31, 2008 were higher than those for the corresponding period last year by $156,189. Meanwhile gross profit rose by $102,351 over the same period in 2007.

Operating expenses climbed by $21,205 from the same period in the previous year, while repairs and maintenance decreased by $14,047 when compared with painting and other repairs carried out during the store closure last year. Payroll costs fell by $32,400 over the same period in the prior year due to tighter control over staff costs.

At July 31, 2008 cash resources amounted to $2,116,475 compared with $2,066,322 at January 31, 2008. Total liabilities totalled $344,324 compared with liabilities of $358,798 at the end of January this year.

Shareholders' equity at the end of July 2008 added up to $2,652,340, or $4.54 per share, compared with shareholders' equity of $2,620,042, or $4.43 per share, at January 31 this year.

A dividend payment of 10 cents per share was paid on July 16, 2008 to shareholders of record on July 1, 2008. The directors agreed on September 30 to pay a further dividend of 10 cents per share on October 15, 2008 to shareholders of record on October 10, 2008.

The Company re-bought 7,362 of its own shares at $6.50 in July 2008.