City briefs: Victoria, Churchill China
The chief executive of floorings group Victoria is “confident shareholders will be very pleased with the way the business is performing this year”.
The bullish statement is on the back of continued strong trading with “double-digit percentage increases over 2019”.
Victoria’s chief executive Philippe Hamers said: “In my 30 years in the industry, I have never known it to be busier at this time of the year.
“Victoria’s production is running at full capacity and some of our factories have orders taking all their output through until autumn. We are out-sourcing some production to ensure service standards are met and market share gains sustained.”
Ceramics manufacturer Churchill China is optimistic about its progress having seen improved trading in the UK and its export markets.
In April the company had reported it was “beginning to see growing evidence of a recovery in hospitality activity” after a quiet start to the year.
Chairman Alan McWalter will tell Churchill China’s AGM later today: “I am pleased to report that this increased activity has continued over the following six weeks and we now enjoy a healthy order book.
“This improvement has been most evident in the UK, but we have also been encouraged by stronger trading in Europe and other export markets.
“We believe our decision to maintain operating levels will stand us in good stead and that the level of momentum within the business will allow us to meet our target performance levels both in the short and longer term.”
