Howden Joinery Group (LSE:HWDN), the UK's largest specialist trade kitchen and joinery supplier, said underlying group sales in the 16 weeks to 18 April, were 3.7% ahead of 2025 and 2.8% ahead on a same depot basis.
Underlying UK sales were 3.5% ahead (2.6% on a same depot basis) and International sales, depots in France, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland, were 9.1% ahead (7.9% same depot) against very strong prior-year comparators, with two fewer trading days in the period (an adjustment worth c.£11m), the company said.
It implemented price increases across all geographies at the start of the year to optimise the balance between margin and volume, its near-sourced, vertically integrated model has kept the supply chain robust despite instability in the Middle East, and fuel costs are hedged through to the end of the year while stock availability for trade customers remains very good.
The company expects to invest around £30m in strategic initiatives in 2026, plans to open around 25 new UK depots and five in the Republic of Ireland, refurbish around 45 older UK depots, introduce 24 new kitchens and expand the Runcorn manufacturing facility, which is progressing as planned.
Trading is on track with the outlook for 2026, the company said it is still early in the financial year, and sales are weighted to the second half given the Autumn peak, and half year results will be released on 23 July.
