Robert Dyas posts seasonal sales up 15%

Robert Dyas, the hardware retailer at the centre of bid speculation, has hammered home an impressive seasonal performance.

Chief executive Brent Wilkinson said the retailer increased like-for-like sales by 8.7 per cent in the five weeks to January 3. Total sales at the 75-store chain rose by approximately 15 per cent.

He said: 'It was a slow build-up that came on strong at the end.' This year, the retailer will increase store numbers by between five and 10, but some locations have yet to be finalised.

Luc Vandevelde's venture capital business, Change Capital Partners, is understood to have entered exclusive talks to buy Robert Dyas for£60 million.