Johnson Service on track

JOHNSON Service Group, the Cheshire-based dry-cleaning to facilities management company, expects to hit full year targets.

The listed Runcorn business said operating profit at its drycleaning division was expected to be “slightly ahead” of last year but like-for-like sales are down 1%.

Its textile arm, which provides workwear rental and laundry services, has performed well, benefiting from new sales wins and increased activity from within existing accounts. But these gains have been offset by higher costs.

The order book at Johnson’s facilities management business has been strengthened over the past year and the group said it is now confident about the division’s prospects.

Johnson said net debt will be lower than the £59.5m at December 2010 thanks to a £5.8m tax rebate in February.