Pre-close Trading Update

RNS Number : 6133L

Walker Greenbank PLC

03 August 2011

 



For immediate release

3 August 2011

WALKER GREENBANK PLC

("Walker Greenbank" or "the Company")

Pre-close Trading Update

Walker Greenbank plc (AIM: WGB), the luxury interior furnishings group whose brands include Sanderson, Morris & Co, Harlequin and Zoffany, is pleased to announce a pre-close trading update ahead of its results for the six months ended 31 July 2011.

The Company has performed particularly well during the period, with the result that trading is ahead of internal projections.

Group turnover has grown 11% compared with the same period last year, with underlying Brand sales having grown 9% overall. The Morris & Co collections launched to celebrate the brand's 150^th anniversary, and Harlequin's recently launched Momentum collection, have driven strong second quarter sales.

Underlying Brand sales in the UK have grown 6% during the period. Encouragingly, underlying international sales have grown 13% with particularly strong growth of 38% in the Rest of the World. This growth has been led by countries including China, where sales are up 20%, Russia, up 25%, Sweden, up 20%, and the Middle East up 135% due to strong contract sales.

The Company intends to issue its half year results in early October.

For further information:

Walker Greenbank PLC	[phone]
John Sach, Chief Executive
Alan Dix, Finance Director
Seymour Pierce	[phone]
Mark Percy / Catherine Leftley - Nominated Adviser
Marianne Woods / Katie Ratner - Corporate Broking
Buchanan Communications	[phone]
Mark Court / Suzanne Brocks

 

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