Walker Greenbank trades in line despite 'challenging' trading conditions
Interior furnishing group Walker Greenbank performed in line with the board's expectations throughout the first half of its trading year despite "challenging" trading conditions.
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Walker Greenbank saw total brand sales grow 0.4% year-on-year in reportable currency, down 0.7% in constant currency.
UK brand sales, the company's largest market, were down 3.1%, whilst international brand sales were up 4.4%.
The AIM-listed group said the performance overseas reflected a temporary change in its US operating model relating to the distribution of the Clarke & Clarke and Studio G brands, with sales being recorded on an agency basis rather than on a distribution basis.
Licensing income performed "strongly" during the half and was pegged to be up around 25.3%, while manufacturing third-party sales were down 4.6% in the half despite strong growth of approximately 17.2% in export sales.
Looking forward, Walker Greenbank's expectations for the full year remained unchanged, although the firm did note that visibility was "limited by Brexit" and continuing wider macro-economic uncertainties.
As of 0850 BST, Walker Greenbank shares had dropped 2.94% to 84.92p.