Turnover at Italian homewares and catering company Carluccio’s jumped 18 per cent against the previous year.

In a trading update for the 52 weeks to 23 September, the retailer also revealed that pre-tax profit is expected to be slightly ahead of the board’s expectations.

Six Carluccio’s opened during the year: in The Brunswick and Spitalfields in London, Trafford Centre in Manchester, Walton in Surrey, a concession in Bentalls department store in Kingston and a flagship in Covent Garden, London. It now has 32 stores across the UK.

Carluccio's is also fitting out two additional stores in Stratford upon Avon and Manchester, which will open before Christmas this year. Two sites have already been signed for next year – at Heathrow Terminal 5 and in the redevelopment area of Leicester's city centre.

The company’s preliminary results will be reported on December 4.