Showers pour cold water on Marshalls

PAVING firm Marshalls has blamed wet weather for a £5m drop in sales in April.

The Huddersfield-company said the wettest April on record hit domestic sales particularly hard, down 8% in the first four months of 2012, compared to the same period last year.

Revenue for the year to the end of April was £106m, down 3% on last year but still above 2010 levels.

In a statement, the company said: “Marshalls has built increased financial and operational flexibility into its business in recent years and remains encouraged by the continuing strength of the private commercial end market, which has offset weakness in public sector, and the resilience of the installer order book. 

“The positive impact of targeted growth initiatives should continue to mean that Marshalls is well placed to outperform the market.”

Marshalls said the industry as a whole was expecting a “small reduction” in UK volumes in 2012 and it was “cautious” about the short term outlook.