A nine-month programme of reorganisation and dealership sales has stemmed the losses at DC Cook.

The group has sold 14 outlets since reporting a £9.2m deficit in the full year to April 1999, and figures for the six months to October show a reduced loss of £1.1m.

Turnover was down to £156m from £163.8m. But the 20 remaining dealerships, representing 11 manufacturers, are now trading profitably. They turned in a £384,000 profit with £1.5m being allocated to the sites which have been sold.