John Keells group's, Ceylon Cold Stores, popularly known as Elephant House, saw a 4 percent year-on-year (YoY) decline in net profits to Rs.179.3 million for the September quarter (2Q13), with its Keells Super supermarket chain still in the red, the interim financial accounts released to the Colombo Stock Exchange showed.

The revenue during the three months under consideration grew 13 percent YoY to Rs.5.5 billion, with cost of sales also growing 13 percent to Rs.4.7 billion.

The group's other operating expenses during the quarter rose 200 percent YoY to Rs.83.8 million, while administrative expenses rose 23 percent YoY to Rs.189.7 million.

Basic earnings for the quarter dropped to Rs.1.89 from Rs.1.99 in 2Q12.