Marshalls PLC Trading Update (1666S)

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RNS Number : 1666S

Marshalls PLC

06 July 2015

Trading Update: 6 July 2015

Trading Performance

Marshalls' revenue for the six months ended 30 June 2015 was up 11 per cent at GBP199 million (2014: GBP180 million). This is an encouraging performance against already strong comparatives for 2014. The Group continues to experience strong order intake which will underpin the current trading momentum into the second half of the year.

Sales to the Public Sector and Commercial end market, which now represent approximately 64 per cent of Marshalls' total sales, were up 15 per cent compared with 2014. The Group continues to target those parts of the market where higher levels of growth are anticipated, such as Rail, Newbuild Housing, Water Management and Street Furniture.

Sales to the Domestic end market, which represent approximately 30 per cent of Marshalls' sales, were up 4 per cent compared with the prior year period. The survey of domestic installers at the end of June 2015 revealed order books of 12.0 weeks (2014: 11.5 weeks) and compared with 10.6 weeks at the end of April 2015.

Continued progress has been made in developing the International business where revenue has grown by 7 per cent in the six months ended 30 June 2015 and is now 6 per cent of Marshalls' sales.

Outlook

The Construction Products Association's Spring Forecast predicts growth in UK market volumes of 5.5 per cent in 2015 and growth of 4.0 per cent in 2016.

Martyn Coffey, Chief Executive of Marshalls, said:

"We are continuing to invest in the further development of the Marshalls' brand across all of the Group's businesses, as well as in product innovation and service delivery initiatives to deliver continued sales growth, improved trading margins and increased return on capital employed."

Enquiries:

 
 Martyn Coffey    Chief Executive     Marshalls plc      [phone] 
 Jack Clarke      Finance Director 
                                                             [phone] 
 Jon Coles                             Brunswick Group                5959 
 Simon Maine 
 

Note to the Editor:

About Marshalls:

Established in the late 1880s, Marshalls is the UK's leading manufacturer of superior natural stone and innovative concrete hard landscaping products, supplying the construction, home improvement and landscape markets. Marshalls provides the product ranges, design services, technical expertise, innovative ideas and inspiration to transform gardens, drives and public and commercial landscapes.

Marshalls operates its own quarries and manufacturing sites throughout the UK, including a national network of manufacturing and distribution sites, and has operations in Belgium and sales representation in other international markets. As a major plc, Marshalls is committed to quality in everything it does, including the achievement of high environmental and ethical standards and continual improvement in health and safety performance.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Any statements in this release, to the extent that they are forward-looking, are subject to risk factors associated with, amongst other things, the economic and business circumstances occurring from time to time in the markets in which Marshalls operates. It is believed that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable but they may be affected by a wide range of variables which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. More information about the factors that may affect Marshalls' performance is contained in the Annual Report to shareholders for the year ended 31 December 2014.

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This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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