Johnson Service keeps clean sheet in second half

(Sharecast News) - Johnson Service Group, the provider of work-wear and hospitality linen rental, said trading for the second half of the year had been in line with expectations and that it is planning to open a new laundry in the north of England.A contract has been signed with a property developer to build the new laundry for JSG's high volume linen business, which will be leased once it comes on stream in early 2020.This will "significantly increase" capacity of the high volume linen business, said new chief executive Peter Egan, who started as chief operating officer last April after 25 years' experience in the industry. He said the new laundry was necessary to "meet customers' needs and underpin future organic growth".During the six months to 31 December, the company completed the £3.3m investment in its Stalbridge Linen unit in London and successfully integrated the August acquisition of South West Laundry into the Stalbridge brand."We have continued to trade well during the period, demonstrating the consistency of our business model," said Egan, with the group remained positive about future prospects and expecting to announce full year results in line with market expectations.Former boss Chris Sander stepped down on 1 January, having spent five years in the role of CEO with the shares more than doubling during that time, and 34 years in total with the company. Johnson Service