Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Irish builders and plumbers merchant group Grafton Group saw turnover rise for the first four months of this year, according to yesterday’s interim management statement.
Group turnover for the four months to April 30 2011 was €642 million, an increase of 4.0% compared to the same period last year. Average daily UK like for like sterling turnover increased by 5.8%. Even the Irish businesses saw some growth, with Irish Retailing sales rising 4.6%, taking the rate of decline in turnover in Ireland to 2.6%.
UK business now accounts for over 70% of Group turnover, and continued to see recovery, against a background of some uncertainty in consumer confidence.
A Belgian builders merchanting business, in which the Group has had a 49% interest since January 2009, traded successfully and grew by acquisition during the period increasing its annualised turnover to circa €40 million.
