Tea and coffee specialist Whittard of Chelsea plans to open up to 50 stores over the next two to three years.
The next branches are slated to open at Dalton Park, near Newcastle, and in Basingstoke by the end of next month. The programme should also deliver up to five more stores by the end of this year, as well as range extensions including herb and oil blends, and ceramics.
Commenting on a strong interim performance, in which the retailer turned a loss of£845,000 into a£9,000 profit, chief executive Richard Rose said he is confident of maintaining positive sales. Turnover was up 6 per cent to£16.7 million. Like-for-likes were up 7 per cent, and up 10 per cent in the first eight weeks of the second half.
Rose said: 'The result is encouraging, given that our peak trading periods of Christmas and Easter both fall into the second half.'
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