Mothercare aiming to boost UK staff and its overseas expansion

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The retailer, which also owns the toy chain Early Learning Centre, needs the extra staff as it is pulling some branches off the High Street to open out-of-town giant stores.

These "parenting centres" currently make up 40% of UK store space and 65% of UK profit. They helped the group post an 11.1% hike in first-half, pre-tax profit to £10 million. Mothercare is launching in South Africa and Australia after a "record first half" in its international division. Sales from its 694 stores abroad rose almost a third as it opened 85 stores, including franchises in China and India.

Chief executive Ben Gordon said it was ideal expansion time as the retailer had "had a lot of success" in reducing rents. "Landlords are negotiating. The boot is on the other foot right now."

Ahead of Christmas he said: "It's impossible to predict but we're hopeful." He reckons the best-selling toys will be a "retro robot" and doll's house.