Dewhurst sees sales and earnings grow

TECHNICAL textiles specialist James Dewhurst recorded sales and earnings growth last year despite rising raw material prices and slower second half demand.

The Accrington business, which employs 289 staff, sells its woven and non-woven textiles to a range of industries including the construction sector where demand fell at the end of last summer, according to accounts for the year to March.

Nonetheless, recently-filed accounts show the firm nearly doubled pre-tax profits to £4m on sales of £48.7m, up 10%.

“Demand for woven and added value products remained strong throughout the period, whereas the softness in the construction sector has until recently depressed demand for non-woven products,” said the directors in their report.

“The current outlook for non-woven is now brighter than it was in the autumn of 2010.”

The business was set up by the Brierley family in the 1930s but they sold a significant stake to the London-based private equity firm AAC Capital Partners in 2008.