Value homewares retailer Dunelm has reported like-for-like sales growth of 2.1% in the 13 weeks to October 2.

Total sales increased 11.6% to £126.7m.

Although like-for-like growth has slowed since its full year, when they increased 8%, the retailer said that the 2.1% growth in the quarter was “very encouraging, given the context of an exceptionally strong performance in the comparative period last year”.

It said that the uplift reflected the “continuing strength of Dunelm’s Simply Value For Money proposition” as well as the benefits from the continuing roll-out of Dorma centres within new and refitted superstores, and “significant expansion of the kitchenware offer”.

 Three new superstores have been opened during the first quarter, including the relocation of an existing under-sized superstore in Hereford. Dunelm now trades from 96 superstore locations in the UK.

A further five new openings are anticipated in the second quarter.

 Dunelm chief executive Will Adderley said: “We remain cautious about the UK consumer environment, but are encouraged by the strength of trading over the first quarter and we are pleased with our pipeline of new store openings.”