Travis Perkins plc, Finnforest (UK) Ltd and James Walker (Leith) Ltd have been named among the 25 “best traders” in the timber industry.
Plimsoll Publishing Ltd, which has completed a study of the top 150 UK timber product companies, said the firms were achieving the right commercial and financial performance, as well as delivering measured profitability and manageable sales growth while keeping debts under control.
Plimsoll also identified 13 aggressor companies which achieved an average 112% sales growth last year, compared to an industry average of 5.3%. The combined sales increase of the 13 businesses totalled more than £43m.
The study also highlights the 25 most profitable companies, which averaged 8.8% margins in 2004 compared to an industry average of 2.6%, plus 25 of the most efficient operations, averaging £325,000 sales per employee.
However, Plimsoll senior analyst David Pattison said there was a widening gap between the top 125 companies.
“There are some terrific performances out there mixed in with some very disappointing ones. The difference is blatant.”
