Grafton, which also runs Jacksons Building Centres, Selco, timber and sheet materials importer L&G Forest Products and Northern Ireland-based merchant Macnaughton Blair, posted an interim statement showing that its UK sales growth also reflected expansion of the branch network through acquisitions and organic developments.
Grafton’s UK merchanting total sales grew 6.7% in the 12 months to December 31, while average daily like-for-like sales were up 3.2%.
The group’s Irish merchanting business, which includes Heiton Buckley and Cork Builders Providers, stabilised in the first half and returned to overall growth in the second half. Grafton reported early indications of the Irish new housing market returning to modest growth following a period of contraction that has lasted for nearly six years.
“There are encouraging signs that the relatively recent recovery under way in our principal markets appears to have more substantive foundations,” said Grafton CEO Gavin Slark.
