Sanderson attracting new customers

The firm, which has operations in Sheffield and Bradford, supplies and designs software packages for retailers and manufacturers which help them monitor everything from sales to stock levels.

Chairman Christopher Winn told shareholders at its annual meeting yesterday the group is cautious about its outlook given the tough economic conditions, but is trading in line with expectations.

"Following a strong finish to the 2009 financial year, I am pleased to report that the group has made a good start to the current year," he said.

"Encouragingly, the launch of the new Factory Automation and Business Assurance products and services have enabled the group to win new custo-mers.

"By the end of February, five months into the current financial year, the group has won more business from new customers than in the whole of the previous financial year."

Its Business Assurance products target the card payment industry with compliance and anti-fraud products and ser-vices.

Sanderson's Factory Automation products are used by firms in the engineering, plastics, electronics, furniture, aerospace, print and food process sectors and improve efficiency.

While the recession meant customers cut back on capital spending, since last summer Sanderson has seen a "fragile upturn" in customer activity.

New customers won since September include haggis-maker MacSween, print firm Piroto Labelling, fashion group Aquascutum and retailer Hamleys.

But Mr Winn said with many customers facing tough trading conditions, plus the looming General Election, "we remain cautious but confident in our outlook for the rest of the financial year".

He added: "Order intake, revenues, profitability and cash generation

are ahead of the previous year and in line with management's

expectations for the current year."

Sanderson last year signed a new term debt facility agreement, which runs until June 2014.

Established in 1983, the group has a turnover of about 25m and employs over 250 people nationwide.