High-street bakery Patisserie Valerie (PV) has set itself the target of building a 20-strong estate across Ireland, according to its chief executive Paul May.

The group opened its first Irish site in Belfast earlier this year, and May is looking at new location in Londonderry as well as second store in the Northern Irish capital.

May told the Belfast Telegraph: “I am eyeing up another three sites. The first Belfast store has been trading fantastically well and we are excited to expand further in Belfast. We first looked at the second site about six weeks ago and are at the drawings and designs stage.”

The company often opens up a large number of stores in quick succession and on average opens around three-and-a-half weeks after it signs the lease.

May believes PV has the capacity to set up stores in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

PV is part of Patisserie Holdings plc, which currently operates under six differentiated brands – Patisserie Valerie, Druckers - which currently has 29 outlets –Vienna Patisserie, Philpotts, Baker & Spice and the Flour Power City Bakery.

PV is continuing to extend across England and has opened sites in Basildon, Chippenham and Doncaster in the last few months.