Egg-free cake supplier Cake Box has continued its expansion with the opening of nine franchise stores in the past six months.

The business, which is now operating 122 stores, has seen total sales rise around 6% to £8.8m in the six months ended 30 September 2019. This is a £0.5m increase on the same period last year.

Sales in stores trading for at least one full financial year rose 6.9% year-on-year.

Recent store openings included Dartford, Derby and Slough, and the company said the pipeline of new stores remained strong and the group was on track to achieve its store opening target for the year.

 “I am very pleased with our performance over the first half, particularly our ongoing momentum in like-for-like sales,” said Sukh Chamdal, co-founder and chief executive officer.

“Our new store roll-out was slightly lower than the comparative period last year. However, we already have a further three stores fitted out and, once the final legal processes are completed, will be open for trading, so will be recognised in the second half.

“With a number of other developments under way to improve the Cake Box proposition, we remain confident in our prospects for the full year and beyond.”

Launched in 2008 in East London, Cake Box supplies products that are all egg-free, which the company said enabled it to target a larger potential market. The business has a manufacturing site in Enfield and, last year, listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).