Record-breaking centenary year for James Halstead
INTERNATIONAL commercial flooring specialist James Halstead has broken records for turnover, profit and dividend in its 100th year.
The company, based in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, reported revenue of £227.3m, up £1.7% on 2014 in its preliminary results for the year ended June 30.
Pre-tax profits were up 5.8% at £44.2m (2014: £41.8m) and earnings per share were up 7.9% to 16.4p (2014: 15.2p) with a final dividend share proposed of 7.858p (2014: 7p) – up 12.3%.
Chief executive Mark Halstead said: “Our business in life is not to get ahead of others but to get ahead of ourselves and in this, our 100th year, we have broken records for turnover, profit and dividend.”
Meanwhile, chairman Geoffrey Halstead commended the company’s successful strategy in the last 12 months.
He said: “As ever amongst the 20 million m² of flooring despatched this year there are contracts that were hard won and impressive.
“The Stade des Lumières, built in Lyon for Euro 2016, Matru retail stores in Chennai, and Queenstown International Airport in New Zealand are but a few.
“As we close this 100th year we should acknowledge our founder, James Halstead, who in the 20 years from founding the company until his death in 1935 built the foundations of our business.
“His obituary hailed him as having created a new industry in Manchester and it is with some pride that we continue to be a part of the ‘North West powerhouse’. I would also like to express the gratitude of the Board to our customers and employees for their part in our success.”
