SCOTMID is rolling out its in-store bakery format to a further 50 stores in the coming months as it aims to establish "points of difference" from competitors on the high street.

The bakeries have been added to 40 shops across the co-operative's estate and involve supply partnerships with local producers such as Stephens the Bakers, JG Ross, Aulds, Goodfellow & Steven, Stuart's of Buckhaven and The Breadwinner Bakery.

Scotmid chief executive John Brodie confirmed outlets around Scotland would be upgraded before the end of the financial year in January 2014 and over a longer term he is keen to add bakeries to all 190 food stores.

He said: "The partners we have chosen have a really strong quality bakery offer and it allows them a route to market they might not otherwise have given their scale.

"It also gives us a real point of difference in store.

"Not only are we seeing the sales of the morning rolls and other bakery items [increasing] but people are buying something else from us as well."

Separately a store format based on fresh produce and locally sourced products has also been rolled out to 10 locations across Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow and Aberdeenshire with more to follow.

In Prestonpans, East Lothian, a pilot of a value store - with more £1 products and value ranges - is being trialled.

Mr Brodie said: "If we don't innovate in the current market we won't even stand still we will go backwards. It is all part of our future vision for our stores to make them different from others in the marketplace."

That came as the co-operative - which includes Semichem, Fragrance House, property interests and funeral services - posted an increase in its half-year surplus before tax from £405,000 to £770,000 even though turnover dipped from £211.1 million to £209.8m.

A deal to merge with Penrith Co-operative - Scotmid's first move into England as a food retailer in its 154-year history - is expected to be given regulatory approval towards the end of next month and will add a further nine food convenience outlets.

However, Mr Brodie said the agreement is unlikely to have a major of impact on the results for the current financial year.

Trading at chemist chain Semichem was said to have been sluggish in the first four months of the trading year but picked up once the weather improved in June and July.

Mr Brodie said there are signs of further pick up in recent months although he pointed out Northern Ireland, where there are 25 Semichem shops, remains behind Scotland and the north of England.

He said: "There are still challenges around the disposable income of people and consumer confidence." He added that some stores were now trialling additional services including lottery, cashback and Paypoint for bill payments while the introduction of cigarettes at 48 locations had increased footfall.

The property arm is close to buying 12 flats in central Edinburgh in a deal believed to be worth seven-figures as it continues to do well from the buoyant rental market in the capital.

Preparation work on a possible nine-flat development to the rear of the Gorgie Road store is also being done.

Additional tenants were secured on commercial property premises in Uddingston and South Queensferry in the six months to July 27.

Mr Brodie said: "If opportunities arise for [property] investments in the current market we will certainly look at it."

Potential new locations for funeral homes are being considered and there was an upgrade of Scotmid's Thomas Brown premises in Broxburn, West Lothian.

Scotmid has around 350 retail and service outlets across its brands with Scottish premises stretching from Wick to Castle Douglas and employing close to 5000 people.