British maternity goods seller Mothercare, on the back of a strong half yearly performance and a steadily improving market, has announced plans to expand its wholesale operations to a global level, as the group has already done to Early Learning Centre, a business it acquired in 2007.

The firm also said that it is planning to build as many as 33 large out-of-town outlets, which will create 400 jobs, in addition to 12 urban retail stores.