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[January 2004]
Clay Products Stay Strong at Marshalls
Sales at Marshalls for the year to 31 December 2003 were £349 million, up 7% on a like for like basis. The company expects preliminary pre-tax profits to be ahead of the previous year. The company added that each of its three divisions had achieved growth in sales.
Landscape Products recorded sales of £289 million (up 7%), Clay Products reported strong levels of demand and sales of £32 million (up 6%) and Natural Stone, benefitting from an acquisition, increased sales to £28 million (up 14%).
Chairman Christopher Burnett said: "The improvement in profitability that flows from this result is underpinned by our programme of capital investment amounting to £100 million in the past three years. With the other actions we are taking in our relentless drive to lower operating costs, together with our marketing and development programmes, we are confident of maintaining our market leadership position".
ENDS