Car parts and cycle retailer Halfords said today it was looking to expand its operation in Ireland after an encouraging performance from its existing three stores.
In a statement accompanying its annual results, the company said it was seeking further sites for stores.
The British retailer reported its 17th consecutive year of sales growth today. Halfords said like-for-like sales since the start of April were higher than 12 months ago after stripping out the impact of an earlier Easter this year.
The news - coupled with a 76.9 per cent hike in annual profits to £77.5 million - will reassure investors in a week when the British Retail Consortium warned of a consumer-led recession.
Halfords said it had the "ability to defend itself against cyclical economic change" as store revamps and demand for in-car entertainment and satellite navigation systems kept its sales growth going.
Like-for-like sales across the group rose 8.9 per cent during the year to April 1st, with growth across its four product areas of car maintenance, car accessories, and cycling and travel goods.
Total revenues improved by 8.6 per cent to £628.4 million as the group installed close to one million products during the year, ranging from car parts to child seats and DVD players under its "We'll Fit It" programme.