March 25 (Reuters) - British designer brand Ted Baker (TBK.L) reported a 3.6 percent rise in full-year adjusted pretax profit, helped by strong performance of its retail division, but said it expected 2010 to be a tough year for its UK wholesale customers.

Ted Baker

However, the designer brand that operates through retail, wholesale and licensing distribution channels, said it was encouraged by trading since the start of the current financial year.

The company recommended a final dividend of 0.5 pence, taking the total dividend for the year to 17.15 pence, up 3 percent from 16.65 pence last year.

For the year ended Dec. 31, pretax profit before impairment rose to 20.3 million pounds ($30.2 million) from 19.6 million pounds in 2008.

Revenue grew 7.2 percent to 163.3 million pounds.

Shares of Ted Baker, which plans retail store openings in Chicago, Santa Monica, Phoenix and New York, were up 2.8 percent at 473 pence at 0819 GMT on Thursday 25 March on the London Stock Exchange. ($1=.6715 Pound) (Reporting by Juhi Arora in Bangalore; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott)