Lakeland has confirmed it is set for expansion both in the UK and overseas, with two more stores planned for the Middle East.
The chain already has shops in Dubai and Bahrain, and two weeks ago opened in Qatar as well.

Marketing director Tony Preedy told sister website HousewaresLive.net: "We have two more in the pipeline in the Middle East, but the speed at which they open will be a function of local prevailing conditions. One is planned for the UAE and a second for Dubai - and one is also planned for Oman."

He said that the product mix would be very similar to that in UK stores: "The bestsellers over here are bestsellers overseas. Products are popular because they're useful and solve the same problems."

As part of a £10m investment over five years, Lakeland is also poised for a string of new UK openings in the weeks ahead. Stores in the Harlequin Centre in Watford, in Hereford and in garden centres at Bridgemere and Woodlands near Leicester will all be open by the end of May.

"Basically we're opening one a week in the UK for a month," said Mr Preedy. He added that the company planned to invest in its flagship store in Windermere this year too.

Lakeland, which saw profits surge by 140% in 2009, says bakeware is still a key performer, with sales more than doubling over the last two years.