Second-hand retailer and pawnbroker Cash Generator is gearing up for expansion beyond the UK mainland after like-for-like sales soared 16.4% in the year to January 31.

Cash Generator’s first new market will be Ireland, with the first store opening this year in Belfast. It plans to open a total of 15 stores there.

Following Ireland, the retailer will target Holland, Spain and Germany. Dates for the pushes into these countries have yet to be confirmed.

Group retail sales were £73.6m for the year. The new transactional website launched in September last year, and now accounts for 10% of the group’s sales.

Cash Generator has 115 stores and plans to open a further 20 this year.