Pets at Home said its position as an “essential retailer” during lockdown, drove double-digital revenue growth in the six months to October following an “exceptional period of demand”.

The company reported a 13% like-for-like revenue growth in the second quarter; sales jumped 4.2% compared in the six months to October to the same period last year, with almost a third of all sales from the Pets at Home’s pet care services.

Pets at Home said its Puppy and Kitten Club members grew 25% year-on-year over the six-month period. The company’s vet division saw 1.2% revenue growth over the period.

Peter Pritchard, Pets at Home’s group chief executive, said: “In spite of the ongoing and wide-ranging impact of COVID-19, there is much to be optimistic about.

“The market in which we operate remains resilient, with recent changes to our work and leisure patterns supporting rising levels of pet ownership, a good proxy for future growth in both the underlying market and our business.”

“There is much to be proud of over the last six months and much to look forward to in equal measure. While we will continue to remain focused and agile in our execution, we are, more than ever, confident in the resilience and longevity of our pet care platform.”