The Hove-based company had a successful year to January 30 with profits up from £280,000 in 1997 to £1.09 million.

Turnover for the year was up by 9.3 per cent to £63.9 million.

Chairman David Heywood, who leaves the company at the end of the month, said: "This year has started well with like for like sales some nine per cent up on last year after the first eight weeks.

"I expect my successor to report positively to shareholders in terms of continuing recovery later in the year."

He said the result was achieved despite a challenging trading environment for much of the year.

Tony Dignum is to take up the role of non-executive chairman. He was formerly chief executive of Automated Security, group financial director of Dixons and managing director of H Samuel.

Also joining the main board as buying and merchandising director is Paul Bacon.

QS opened ten new stores last year, taking its total of outlets across the south to 123, with a total sales are of 293,000 sq ft.

Mr Heywood added: "QS has a strong base on which to move forward. At the year end the group had net cash of £3.5 million and net assets of £22.7 million. The group is therfore well placed to accelerate its store-opening programme, while continuing to focus on enhancing sales densities in the current stores."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.