Brighthouse plans 30 more stores

Brighthouse, the UK's largest rent-to-own retailer, is to press on with expansion plans despite the gloom afflicting other parts of the high street.

The group, which has 228 stores, will open another 30 this year as part of a long-term aim for a chain of 650 outlets across the UK. Sales in the year to March rose by 15.4 per cent to £228m, with like-for-like sales rising by 9.2 per cent.

The company said that, despite the wave of retail firms folding, its business remained "relatively buoyant", adding that the gaps now appearing on the high street will help its expansion, especially near to big chains that have a lot of footfall.