M and M Direct has leased a new warehouse as part of plans to triple sales to £200 million.

The retailer, which expects sales of£74 million this year, has begun moving its warehouse operations to a 210,000 sq ft site close to its head office.

M and M Direct chief executive Steve Robinson, who joined last October after heading Tesco Direct, said: “We want to get to a point where we don’t have to worry about our highest peaks and for this the correct infrastructure needs to be in place.”

He declined to provide a time frame to hit sales of£200 million, but said the size of the new premises would facilitate that level of growth.

“It won’t be easy, but it is a nice number to have to work towards. We have a great brand, with a great heritage and great people on board,” he said.

The extra room in the new warehouse could also allow the retailer to move into new product areas such as bedding, textiles and sports equipment, said Robinson.

M and M Direct, which sells end-of-line clothing from brands including Ben Sherman, Nike and Calvin Klein, also hopes to add more brands to its offer.

To further bolster its growth, it has hired Graham Benson as IT director. Benson, who previously worked for Play.com, is the e-tailer’s first IT director to have a place on the board.

M and M enjoyed strong Christmas trade, with total sales growth up 29 per cent in the nine weeks to December 30. Internet sales soared 51 per cent for the period. Last year, TA Associates backed a£90 million management buy-out of the company.