Young fashion footwear retailer Office has posted soaring like-for-likes of 26% across the five weeks to December 3.

The increase is up on the same period last year which saw a like-for-like rise of 19.4%. Meanwhile, 12 month like-for-like growth is above 15%, and has traded “significantly” ahead of expectations.

In the wake of the “strong” performances Office has appointed Allan Leighton, chairman to Peacocks before it collapsed into adminstration on January 18, as non-executive chairman. Leighton was also previously chief executive of Asda and chairman of the Royal Mail.

Office chief executive Brian McCluskey said: “Over the coming 12 months we will look at opening between six to eight stores and continue to invest heavily in our web business.”

Leighton is expected to help drive the footwear retailer’s ongoing expansion.