Aug. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Lianhua Supermarket Holdings Ltd., China's biggest grocery chain, reported first-half profit of 140.3 million yuan ($18.5 million), little changed from the year before.

Net income in the first six months of the year rose 1 percent from 138.4 million yuan, the company said in a statement to Hong Kong's stock exchange today. The Shanghai-based company reported earnings per share of 0.23 yuan compared with last year's 0.22 yuan. Sales rose 7.5 percent to 8.98 billion yuan.

The company said it will pay an interim dividend of 0.06 yuan a share.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tian Ying in Beijing on ytian@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 15, 2007 18:29 EDT