Accent Group, the ASX-listed retailer behind the Hype DC and Platypus shoe chains, says sales growth slowed in the key shopping months of November and December when the company turned to big discounts to attract shoppers.

Sales grew 4.6 per cent during the first half of the financial year to $766.6 million, missing market expectations on the group-owned measure, including store turnover and wholesale customers. Like-for-like sales were up 2.9 per cent, the company said on Wednesday.