Commercial drainage business posts record-breaking first quarter figures

Macclesfield-based drainage specialist Metro Rod has revealed a record-breaking first quarter performance.

Its franchise network of 41 depots across the UK has grown system sales by 12.9%, equivalent to £9.8m, compared with a 10.4% improvement in turnover for the whole of 2018.

Providing its franchisees with a central sales and marketing function, and new IT systems mobilised from its support centre in Macclesfield, Metro Rod has seen 12 of its depots achieve year-on-year growth of more than 30% in the first quarter.

Announcing the results at its annual general meeting last month, parent company Franchise Brands – an international multi-brand franchisor – praised the implementation of its Vision 2023 strategy as the mechanics behind the growth.

Stephen Hemsley, executive chairman, said: “Metro Rod’s forward momentum in Q1 has continued apace, with our franchise network growing their system sales by 12.9%, resulting in a record quarter.

“We are encouraged to also see that our B2C brands, ChipsAway, Ovenclean and Barking Mad, have had a positive start to the year and that franchisee recruitment has improved.”

He added: “Overall, the group is trading well, and the board looks forward to the remainder of the year with confidence.”