Pizza chain Domino’s plans to open 35 to 40 stores during the first half of 2011/12.

The confidence boost comes after the company reported a 10.3 per cent same store sales growth for the first four months of the 2012 financial year, on top of the 7.83 per cent growth achieved in the same period last year.

This has been achieved with same store sales growth of 11.1 per cent in Australia and New Zealand and 8.3 per cent in Europe, despite rolling over 9.35 per cent and 4.21 per cent respectively.

Chief executive Don Meij said there has been strong organic store opening for the first half of 2012 as Domino’s continues towards its forecast of opening 60 to 70 new stores during 2011/12

“These openings include six in Australia, one in New Zealand, two in France and three in The Netherlands, which are all new image stores that feature seating for customers and an open view to the store’s pizza making area,” he said.

From this, the company has reaffirmed its net profit after tax growth in the region of 15 per cent and are expecting to achieve the upper end of 3-5 per cent same store sales growth as its 2012 full year guidance.