ScS has hailed a jump in customer order numbers since the start of its current financial year as the business closes in on 100 stores.

The furniture and upholstery retailer said it had “a good start” to the year, after like-for-like order numbers jumped 5% in the 16 weeks to November 19.

ScS, which issued the update ahead of its AGM this afternoon, said it would reach the 100-store mark on Boxing Day, when it launches three new shops in Plymouth, Thanet and Straiton in Edinburgh.

The retailer also trades from 28 concessions in House of Fraser.

ScS chairman Alan Smith said its performance over the 16-week period was “pleasing” against “particularly strong comparatives.”

Smith added that the business was trading “in line with expectations”, but cautioned that it faced “very strong comparatives” during the remainder of the financial year.

Last month, ScS revealed it had swung back into the black with a pre-tax profit of £10.9m in the 53 weeks to July 30, as like-for-like order numbers jumped 14.8%.