Smith said trials of its new “food-to-go” concept in its travel shops at train stations had been positive and it had extended the products into all its main rail, airport and hospital stores across the UK.
The opportunity to expand travel in the UK and overseas is very strong
The group opened 30 new stores during the year including seven in air, seven in rail and eight in hospitals and plans to open a similar number this year with 20 a year planned going forward. Its travel arm, of which the train and airport shops are part, boosted profits by 11 per cent. Its high-street division lifted profits by 4 per cent thanks to cost cuts and doing more with available space, such as opening post office counters.
Total group profits rose 9 per cent to £112million in the year to August 31. The travel division expanded in Australia, South-east Asia, the Middle East, India and Europe and now has 138 shops open with a further 27 planned. Chief executive Stephen Clarke said: “The opportunity to expand travel in the UK and overseas is very strong.” Shares rose 54½p to 1050p.