Jollyes, the pet superstore chain founded in Enfield in 1971, has confirmed its strongest-ever first half trading performance (for the 26 weeks to November 27th 2023).

During the last quarter, Jollyes, whose Gloucester outlet in Westgate Retail Park on St Oswalds Road is just one of 98 stores across the UK, also posted its highest-ever trust pilot scores while opening eight stores. The company now expects to open its 100th outlet early in 2024.

FY24 figures for pet superstore's first half saw a continuation of the market out-performance it has maintained for the last three years.

Total sales for the financial period were £70m – 31% higher than the £54m posted for H1 in the prior year.

Joe Wykes, CEO, said: "There's no doubt we've had a tremendous six months, delivering for customers, our people and our shareholders. As always, behind the numbers sits the hard work of our 1,000-plus strong team as we transform this business with real pace - they continue to inspire me every day."

He added: "But we also all know past performance is no guarantee future success. "That's why we're determined to guard against complacency, investing in new partnerships that will help strengthen our momentum in the months and years ahead."

In the half year results, Jollyes posted like-for-like sales of 19%, saying that its offer of value, service and choice continues to be in "lock-step with customer's needs and expectations".

This growth is a step up from the 17% like-for-like number Jollyes achieved in FY23, the company said, and is firmly based on transaction and basket-size growth and not price inflation.

Further significant measures the company attributes to recent success include a strengthening of its customer Petclub scheme by introducing new tiers for its biggest fans, offering exclusive prices and more rewards.

A spokesman said: "Alongside the savings Petclub membership brings in store and online, Petclub can now be used across services Jollyes provides in its Jolly Groomer salons and community pet clinics."

Teh eight new stores added in the six months were in Swindon, Belfast, Merthyr Tydfil, Harrogate, Widnes, Swadlincote, Reading and Hull, bringing the total number of Jollyes stores to 98.

"Jollyes has now added 31 stores to its estate over the last two years, an increase of over 40 percent. It will open its 99th store in Connswater – its third Belfast store – in early March and its 100th store later in the month, well ahead of schedule."

● Jollyes intends to imminently roll out a partnership with a Bristol-based social enterprise that will see it offer its street currency, The BillyChip, on sale in stores for £2. The token can be given by customers to those living on the streets in exchange for a coffee or food. In Jollyes, tokens will be redeemable for tins of dog food. While numbers are hard to assess, a recent survey indicated since the pandemic, as many as 320,000 people experienced homelessness with between 5-25pc being homeless with a pet.

The University of Bristol earlier this summer shared data from new research that showed homeless people and their dogs have a mutually beneficial relationship, the dogs providing critical support for their owners' emotional and mental health, while owners make every effort to protect the dog and meet their welfare needs.