Topps Tiles has reported a rise in like-for-like sales in its third quarter and improved trading from the levels reported in the first half of the year.

The tile specialist posted an increase of 3.8% in the 13-week period to June 29, 2019, with trading improving over the first half of the year where like for like sales were up 0.2%.

The retailer put this success down to its product range, the launch of customer feedback system ’Tile Talk’ and the acquisition of commercial business Strata Tiles.

Topps Tiles finished the period with 365 stores across its estate, down from 374 during the same period in 2018. It said it expected two-thirds of these stores to be fitted with its “latest merchandising initiatives” by the end of the financial year.

The value retailer said 20% of its sales in the third quarter were driven by new ranges it launched over the last year.

Boss Matthew Williams said: “The business performed well over the third quarter with like-for-like sales growing by 3.8%. While this is in part due to a softer trading period in the prior year, we are encouraged that the successful execution of our strategy is delivering good trading results.”