Pets at Home, which is set to open two new stores in Cirencester and Rochdale in the next few weeks, is planning further expansion in 2015 with an addtional 25 shops, 60 veterinary practices and 50 groom room salons.

The company currently operates from 386 UK stores as well as almost 300 small animal veterinary surgeries and nearly 150 groom rooms. It has plans to grow to over 500 UK stores, more than 700 veterinary practices and in excess of 300 groom rooms in the medium term.

The latest Pets at Home store to open will be in Cirencester, where it is investing more than £350,000 in premises opening on Friday, November 21.

The store has created 23 jobs, including grooming and vet positions, and received more than 600 applications.

The Vets4Pets surgery will have a full operating theatre, digital X-ray facilities, in-house laboratory and a hospital ward providing a full range of treatments from health checks to emergency operations.

Area manager Peter Reis said: "I’m pleased we’ve found a team of talented individuals in Cirencester. They’re all extremely passionate about pets and can’t wait to get started."

Store manager James Seale, who has been with Pets at Home for eight years, said it has been a busy few months getting the store ready.

"Now my team and I can’t wait to open the doors and welcome our new customers and their pets to the store," he said.

Pets at Home Cirencester will cater for local dogs, cats, small animals, chickens, reptiles, birds and fish as well as wildlife.

Another Pets at Home store will open in Rochdale during the first week in December with the creation of 13 jobs.

More than £350,000 has been invested in the project at  at Kingsway Retail Park which will create 13 jobs.

The Handforth-based company, which listed on the stock market in March, reported that like-for-like sales for the 28 weeks to October 9 were up 4.2%. Total revenue surged 10.2% to £381.5m.

It was founded in 1991 and has more than 380 sites across the UK employing more than 6,000 people.