British natural beauty products retailer Body Shop International plans 300 new stores globally.
The retailer made the annoncement as it reported a 40 per cent jump in full-year profits today.
It unveiled a £100 million sterling ($177 million) expansion plan despite tough trading conditions in Britain, where like-for-like sales fell 13 per cent in the year to February 29th. Group same-store sales fell 4 per cent in the year.
The new stores, planned over the next three years, includes outlets in Britain, the United States, eastern Europe and Japan.
Body Shop's shares were up 5.2 per cent at a six-year high of 142-1/2 pence at 10.45 a.m., valuing it at £288 million.
Chief executive Mr Peter Saunders said the expansion would also include refurbishing existing stores to make them lighter and brighter, growing a service that demonstrates products in people's homes, updating its IT systems and selling products through its website.