Franchise Brands PLC Lockdown easing leads to record job numbers

TIDMFRAN

Franchise Brands PLC

25 May 2021

Reach announcement (non-regulatory)*

25 May 2021

FRANCHISE BRANDS PLC

("Franchise Brands", the "Company" or the "Group")

Lockdown easing leads to record job numbers at Metro Rod and Metro Plumb

Franchise Brands plc (AIM: FRAN), a multi-brand franchise business, is pleased to share details of a new record at its B2B division, where in the past two weeks and with the easing of lockdown restrictions, lead intake at Metro Rod and Metro Plumb surged to 9,300 jobs, surpassing the previous record reached during the seasonal 2019 pre-Christmas rush by 4%. In the financial year to 31 December 2019 (prior to Covid-19 impact), Metro Rod and Metro Plumb completed 187,000 jobs.

Peter Molloy, Managing Director Metro Rod & Metro Plumb, commented:

"I am delighted that our Metro Rod and Metro Plumb engineers are once again able to welcome back and support our many customers in the service and hospitality sectors as they reopen their doors following the further easing of the lockdown last Monday."

Enquiries:

 
 Franchise Brands plc                               + 44 (0) 1625 813231 
 Stephen Hemsley, Executive Chairman 
 Chris Dent, Chief Financial Officer 
 Julia Choudhury, Corporate Development Director 
 
 Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser 
  and Joint Broker)                                 [phone] 
 Jeremy Porter / Liz Kirchner (Corporate 
  Finance) 
  Amrit Nahal (Sales and Corporate Broking) 
 
 Dowgate Capital Limited (Joint Broker)             [phone] 
 James Serjeant / Colin Climie / Nicholas 
  Chambers 
 
 MHP Communications (Financial PR)                  [phone] 
 Katie Hunt                                         [phone] 
                                                    [e-mail] 
 

About Franchise Brands plc

Franchise Brands is focused on building market-leading businesses in selected customer segments, primarily via a franchise model. The Group currently has a combined network of over 425 franchisees across five principal franchise brands. Our focus is on established brands which can benefit from our shared support services, specialist sector expertise, management experience and group resources.

The Group is organised into a B2B division comprised of Metro Rod, Metro Plumb and Willow Pumps, and a B2C division that incorporates ChipsAway, Ovenclean and Barking Mad. This divisional organisation is designed to provide a greater focus and structure to support the strategic development of our B2B and B2C brands. Each of our brands are leaders in their respective markets and each brand has a long trading history. The combined trading history of all the Group's brands is over 135 years.

Franchise Brands plc employs 265 people across three principal locations in Macclesfield, Kidderminster and Aylesford.

For further information, visit www.franchisebrands.co.uk .

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May 25, 2021 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)