Peacocks plans to open up to 30 stores in Ireland

Value fashion retailer Peacocks, which also owns the Bonmarche chain, is to open in Ireland for the first time.

Peacocks chief executive Richard Kirk said there was scope for up to 30 eponymous shops in Ireland, and he aims to start opening 'a few' outlets later this year.

In a trading update, the retailer said final-quarter like-for-like sales were up 5.5 per cent at Peacocks. Bonmarche's like-for-likes were down 13.6 per cent because of strong comparatives. However, Kirk said: 'We have£8 million less markdown than last year at Bonmarche.'

The retailer expects to post pre-tax profits of at least£35 million for the year.