Panel products helped fuel a near 20% hike in sales at Irish timber and builders merchant Heiton Holdings plc in the half-year to the end of October.
Heiton, which saw its £192.3m sales deliver a 16% pre-tax profits lift to £11.8m, was buoyed by its four Panelling Centre depots’ 16% sales rise to £8.1m.
The company’s Atlantic Homecare DIY chain – expected to operate from 11 sites by the end of the year – experienced a 26.9% sales advance.
Strong building activity in the republic allied to rising levels of consumer spending were cited as the key reasons for the results.
Heiton’s UK subsidiary Cooper Clarke fared less well and was hit by a 6.5% drop in sales, which the company attributed to the fuel and flooding crises in September and October.
The acquisition of Tulla Hardware in July for £2.5m brings the number of merchant branches that Heiton operates to 21. The company is looking to integrate the Heiton and Buckleys brands under a single identity.
Group chief executive Leo Martin predicted that business would remain buoyant against a background of favourable economic conditions.
