Buoyant Marshalls sees revenues rise 11 per cent

The Huddersfield firm, responsible for the stone landscaping of Trafalgar Square, said it continues to experience strong order intake which bodes well for the second half of 2015.

Marshalls said sales to the public sector and commercial end market, which now represent around 64 per cent of total revenues, were up 15 per cent compared with 2014.

The group is continuing to target growth markets such as rail, new-build housing, water management and street furniture.

Marshalls said sales to the domestic end market, which represent around 30 per cent of revenues, were up 4 per cent compared with the prior period.

The survey of domestic installers at the end of June 2015 revealed order books of 12 and compared with 10.6 weeks at the end of April 2015, the company added.

Marshalls said it has continued to make progress in developing its international business, where revenues rose by 7 per cent in the six months ending June 2015.

Martyn Coffey, chief executive, 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.”

Shares edged up 0.35 per cent in early trading today.

Marshalls has been supplying stone and concrete products to the construction, home improvement and landscape markets since the 1890s.