Domino’s Pizza UK and Ireland has announced a positive trading update for the six weeks to 2 January 2005.

Like-for-like sales increased by 13.2 per cent in the period which resulted in the company achieving like for like sales growth of 6.6 per cent for the full year ending 2 January, against a slightly higher figure of 7.4 per cent for the corresponding period last year.

However, average weekly unit sales hit a new record in the six-week period while the company opened 40 new stores in 2004, bringing the total store count to 357.

Chief executive of Domino’s, Stephen Hemsley, said: “I am very pleased that we have successfully continued our aggressive expansion programme whilst also delivering robust system sales increases. In view of this performance, I am confident that we will deliver full year results in line with market expectations.”

Preliminary results for the year ending 2 January 2005 will be announced on 28 February.