Aga Foodservice serves up record year for trading

Aga Foodservice Group has claimed sizzling figures at its retail outlets for last year.

At the company's 33 Aga standalone shops, like-for-like sales leaped 20 per cent, and at the 44-strong homewares chain Fired Earth, comparables were ahead by 8 per cent.

Chief operating officer Stephen Rennie said it had been a record year.

'The housing market has been a key driver for us. As home sales slow, we still expect to maintain momentum as people spend on their existing properties.'

Retail now accounts for half of the group's turnover and a major store revamp programme is under way. During the past 18 months, more than 60 per cent have been refurbished.

A key initiative has been the introduction of a combined Aga and Fired Earth offer, called Inspirational, last year. Since the launch, 10 combined outlets have been opened, while other shops are being retro-fitted.