Argos will launch its new catalogue tomorrow, which will carry 700 more products than a year ago.

Year on year, approximately 10,000 of the retailer’s 18,800 products are either new to Argos or have been updated.

It is the 70th edition of the legendary catalogue and coincides with the store group’s 35th birthday. In 1973, the Argos catalogue was only 250 pages and contained 4,700 items. The latest edition is 1,800 pages and two thirds of UK households are likely to pick up a copy.

Argos managing director Sara Weller said: “The catalogue has been recognised as a cultural icon and we’re delighted to be celebrating our 35th anniversary this week by introducing our biggest and best book yet.”

The catalogue will also include an extended Argos Value range to entice credit-crunched consumers and maintain competitiveness against the big grocers’ expanding general merchandise offers.

However, Argos’s birthday celebrations may be dampened by continuing uncertainty about possible strike action by some of its staff. Shop stewards are meeting today to scrutinise an improved pay offer from the retailer.