One of the UK's leading designers and manufacturers of gold and silver jewellery, Ortak said yesterday its sales have topped £3.1m in the year to date and it is on track to beat last year's pre-tax profit of £224,000.

It also unveiled what it called "aggressive expansion plans for the remainder of 2008" with the opening of stores at Glasgow's Silverburn centre next month followed in October by a flagship store at The Elements in Livingston.

The openings will take Ortak's retail portfolio to 14 and employee numbers to 90 in the retail sector of the business.

Yvonne Carr, retail director, said current trading presented "one of the most challenging retail environments in Ortak's 41-year history."

She added that the company's unique model of high-street sales coupled with inhouse design and manufacturing was sustaining its growth.

She added: "The jewellery industry in general is faring well in comparison to other retail sectors and we're confident that this will continue."

As a gift item, jewellery was weathering the storm due to the importance of special occasions.

"We've noticed a strong increase in self-purchasing as despite the current climate, many customers continue to enjoy personal indulgences."

The company is also preparing to launch a vigorous new marketing campaign in time for the crucial Christmas period fronted by Amanda Lamb, former face of Scottish Widows and presenter of TV's A Place in the Sun'.

Fiona Moriarty, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium commented: "Ortak is bucking all trends when it comes to retail growth."

She said Ortak was "a quintessential Scottish company which is flying the flag for retail not only in Scotland but also at a UK level".