Premium frozen food retailer Cook is trialling an online delivery service as it looks to expand its multichannel operations.

The family-owned retailer said it has begun a trial of an online and over-the-phone delivery service from its Clapham store.

Founder Edward Perry told Retail Week: “We are trialling the service at our Clapham store, possibly with a view to a roll-out, and it has been well received.”

The retailer already offers a home delivery service for customers who spend more than £35.

Cook defied the economic gloom to report a 101% rise in pre-tax profits to £1.3m in the year to March 2012 this week.

Like-for-like sales were up 9% last year and are running at 6% since year-end.

Cook, which has 62 standalone stores as well as concessions in farm shops and independent retailers, saw sales jump 20% to £26.5m last year.

In the past year, Cook opened 13 stores in locations including London, Leeds and Cardiff. Perry said that the business will open six stores in the forthcoming year.

The Kent-based company, which also manufactures frozen food products, has 450 employees.

Perry said the retailer is on the lookout for stores in London as it looks to strengthen its position in the capital. Work has begun on a new format store in Muswell Hill, which will see the retailer sectioned into zones for meals to eat straightaway and the retailer’s staple offer.

Perry said: “We have had a good year. The key has been, and will continue to be, relentless innovation in our kitchens to create new products.

“The focus will be on like-for-like growth in the coming year. We will carry on working hard in a difficult market.”

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