Footwear retailer Shoe Zone saw like-for-like UK sales rocket 27% in the five weeks to January 2, while sister chain Stead & Simpson saw comparable sales rise 7.6% over the same period.

Christmas trading marked a record performance for the Shoe Zone Group, which added the Stead & Simpson chain to its portfolio in January 2008.

Over the full year the Shoe Zone chain reported a 10.9% uplift in like-for-like sales.

The company said it was on track to deliver record profits over the year, which saw its sales grow to £274 million. In 2008, group sales were around £237.6m.

It ended 2009 with a total of 805 stores - 559 Shoe Zone shops and 246 Stead & Simpson stores. This included the acquisition and opening of 18 former Priceless footwear stores as Shoe Zone shops.

Shoe Zone Group said that like-for-like sales at both fascias remained ahead by double digits for the start of 2010 but said that growth would be more challenging this year because of tough comparatives.

However the company added in a statement that it expected the property market to continue to offer opportunities for growth. It plans to open 15 new Shoe Zone stores this year and refurbish a further 85 stores. It also plans to open five new Stead & Simpson shops and refurbish 50 of the chain’s branches during 2010.

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