17 Jun 2015 07:00
For immediate release | 17 June 2015 |
WALKER GREENBANK PLC
("Walker Greenbank" or "the Company")
AGM Statement
Walker Greenbank PLC (AIM: WGB), the luxury interior furnishings group whose brands include Sanderson, Morris & Co., Harlequin, Zoffany, Scion and Anthology, will hold its Annual General Meeting in London this morning.
Terry Stannard, Walker Greenbank's Chairman, will make the following statement:
"The financial year to date is progressing well. I'm pleased to report a continued strong trading performance in the UK along with an acceleration in international sales growth, which has been broadly based geographically.
"In the first four-and-a-half months of the current year, total brand sales are up 8.9% in reportable currency, 9.6% in constant currency, compared with the same period last year. Sales in the UK, our largest market, are up 8.1% whilst brand sales overseas are up 10.1% in reportable currency and up 12.0% in constant currency. Our Anthology brand, which was designed primarily for export markets, has made a significant contribution to our overseas growth.
"In the US, where we completed the extension of our New York showroom last year, sales are up 27.1% in reportable currency and 16.1% in constant currency in the first four-and-a-half months, making this our second largest market. We continue to see significant potential throughout the US.
"Our manufacturing operations are performing well, with digital printing continuing to grow rapidly. We remain confident of the outlook for the remainder of the year and beyond."
For further information:
Walker Greenbank PLC | +44 (0) 844 543 4668 |
John Sach, Chief Executive Mike Gant, Chief Financial Officer | |
Caroline Geary, Company Secretary | |
Investec Bank plc | +44 (0) 20 7597 5970 |
Garry Levin / David Anderson - Nominated Adviser | |
Henry Reast - Corporate Broking | |
Buchanan | +44 (0) 20 7466 5000 |
Mark Court / Helen Chan / Sophie Cowles |
Notes for editors:
About Walker Greenbank
Walker Greenbank PLC is a luxury interior furnishings company that designs, manufactures and markets wallpapers and fabrics together with a wide range of ancillary interior products. The Company's brand portfolio - comprising Sanderson, Morris & Co, Harlequin, Zoffany, Scion and Anthology - spans heritage and contemporary design and its products are sold in 85 countries worldwide. The Company derives significant licensing income from the use of its designs in lifestyle products such as bed linen, rugs and tableware.
The Company employs more than 600 people and has showrooms in London, New York, Paris, Amsterdam and Dubai along with partnership showrooms in Moscow and in Shenzhen, China. Its UK manufacturing base, which includes a wallpaper factory in Loughborough and a fabric printing factory in Lancaster, manufactures product both for the Company and for other wallpaper and fabric brands. Continued investment in manufacturing has allowed the Company to offer a wide range of printing techniques.
Walker Greenbank trades on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WGB.
For further information please visit: www.walkergreenbank.com/