A NORTH-EAST furniture company is hoping to become the most profitable in the country after celebrating record results.

Sunderland's ScS yesterday announced a 14 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £5.9m in the six months to the end of March. The company's turnover rose 23 per cent to £62.1m.

Chief executive David Knight, who is from Darlington, told Echo Business that he was delighted with the figures.

"We are pleased that we are progressing in line with everyone's expectations, and we are pleased that we are moving forward," he said.

"Our ultimate aim is to operate the most profitable furniture group in the country."

ScS has nine stores in the North-East, including one which opened a year ago in Yarm Road, Darlington, and 52 nationwide. Three more will open this week.

Last month, ten jobs were created when the company opened a customer care call centre in Sunderland.

Earlier this year, the firm opened its first store in Wales, on the outskirts of Cardiff.

Mr Knight said the business would continue to expand.

"If you look back we have continued to grow at a steady pace probably over the last 20 years.

"That is because we have got very good staff and we are very focused on profit. But we also want people to be very happy with what they have bought from us, and our staff are there to help them make that purchase."

He said the firm's success was based on a tried-and-tested model: "We take a site of about 10,000sq ft, put in a mezzanine floor and create a very nice high quality fit-out.

"Basically we create a nice environment for people to shop in."

Chairman Mike Browne said yesterday's results represented significant growth for ScS.

"We have again demonstrated our ability to maintain a strong gross margin.

"Having invested in three new regional distribution centres, the group is well placed to take advantage of the economies of scale this brings whilst continuing the expansion of the store network."