Value variety store retailer B&M Bargains achieved strong like-for-like sales in the four weeks to December 26, which were up 9% on last year.

It produced equally solid calendar year like-for-like sales, which increased 7% on 2008.

Total sales growth at B&M Bargains soared more than 60% thanks to an aggressive store opening programme last year, with the retailer adding 58 stores to its existing portfolio of 100 during the year to end 2009.

B&M Bargains joint managing director Simon Arora said that the retailer plans to open another 40 stores in 2010, which will be distributed across the Scotland to south Wales region within which it presently operates.