Travis Perkins has spent £20m in the first five weeks of 2008 opening 13 new branches – including four new Wickes stores.
In an announcement this morning to the London Stock Exchange, the
Northampton-based builders merchants and home improvement retailer said the openings included eight brownfield sites and five acquisitions.

The latest expansion is set to add £24m of turnover to the group in its first 12 months of trading.

The additions include seven TP branches, one Keyline, one Tile Giant and the four Wickes outlets at Penrith, Cumbria; Bulwell, Nottinghamshire; Dumfries, Scotland and Glossop, Derbyshire - all acquired from Focus DIY.

Group chief executive, Geoff Cooper, said: "On a like-for-like basis, the group is growing ahead of market growth rates.