DSGi is to accelerate the roll out of its 2-in-1 Currys and PC World stores with 60 locations identified.

The electricals giant will also step up the roll out of its megastores, with 70 locations identified, 33 of which will be open in time for Christmas this year.

The move comes as US rival Best Buy prepares to open its first stores in the UK this spring.

DSGi is today hosting an investors and analyst visit at its West Thurrock megastore, to provide an update on its renewal and transformation plan.

Chief executive John Browett said: “The renewal & transformation plan is making significant changes to the group and we have started to see the benefits of this work.  The new store formats are popular with customers, particularly the megastores and the combined 2-in-1 stores.  The next twelve months will be another busy period as we roll out the improved proposition and introduce more services to more of our customers with an unbeatable combination of value, choice and service.”

DSGi said the plan is on track and gross profit uplifts of new format stores are up 20% on average. It added that early indications are that second year trading in reformatted stores remains strong.

In the last 18 months, over 20,000 staff have participated in the group’s training programmes to improve their product knowledge and service.

139 stores have been reformatted so far, representing one third of the total UK and Ireland sales. The retailer estimates that the transformation work benefitted like-for-like performance over Christmas by approximately 3%.

The group said it remains on track to deliver £50m of cost savings in the current financial year to May 1 and a further £150m over the following three years.