The fuel and food retailer, Applegreen, who floated on the Irish and UK stock markets in June, has just announced a 43% increase in pre-tax profits to €5.2m for the six month period to June, on revenues that rose by 16% to €517m.

The company increased its number of motorway service areas and fuel service stations from 152 across Ireland, the UK and the US, last December to 175 by the end of June.

This included the group’s first motorway service station in Northern Ireland, just outside Belfast, the first of four it expects to open in Northern Ireland by the end of next year.

According to the company, growth was evenly spread across both the Republic of Ireland and the UK, with the latter’s contribution also adding about €500,000 in additional profits due to the strength of sterling against the pound during the period.

Applegreen's chief executive, Bob Etchingham commented on the company's performance: "The group has delivered a strong performance in the first half of 2015 reflecting the positive contribution from site openings in the latter part of 2014 and the increased contribution from food driven by our upgrade programme."