Costa Coffee’s total sales have increased by 25.3% in the last nine months.

In parent company the Whitbread Group’s latest financial results for the 39 weeks to 29 November, the coffee shop chain saw like-for-like sales (LFL) grow by 6.9%.

During the company’s third quarter period, Costa’s total sales increased by 25.5% while LFLs rose by 7.1%.

In the financial year so far, Costa grew total system sales by 21.9% to £733.9m, as well as franchise sales which saw a 18.7% rise to £295.7m.

Andy Harrison, chief executive of Whitbread, said: “This once again demonstrates the strength of our brands. The economic environment remains challenging with no change in our background consumer market. We are on track to deliver full-year results in line with expectations.”

From 1 March to 29 November, the company opened 130 stores and closed nine in the UK, bringing its store count to 1,212. On an international scale, 2,437 stores are currently operating under the Costa brand, compared to 2,203 nine months ago.

The company said it plans to open 330 net new stores worldwide and around 1,300 Costa Express units in the full year.

Within Costa’s EMEI region, system sales grew by 10.8% to £125.8m, while its Asia division saw a 80.2% increase in system sales to £33.8m.

The Whitbread Group, which operates such brands as Costa Coffee, Premier Inn hotels and Beefeater Grill restaurants, also saw its total sales rise by 14.4% along with a LFL sales growth of 3.3%.