News: Profits up at United Carpets

Rotherham-based United Carpets Group plc, the second largest chain of specialist retail carpet and floor covering stores in the UK, has reported a 10.2% increase in pre-tax profits for the six months to the end of September.

Profit before tax increased by 10.2% to £702,000 as network sales, including sales by franchisees grew by 11.8% to £34.51m. Like for like sales were up 2.5% and revenue increased by 11.4% to £14.06m.

The majority of revenues are derived from the sale of floor coverings, predominantly carpet, laminate and vinyl flooring through franchised stores and the roup's own corporate stores. Sales of beds have also increased.

With their head office at Bramley, United Carpets operates 80 stores and directly and indirectly employs over 450 people.

Chief executive Paul Eyre said: "After a relatively slow start to the year, the second quarter over the summer period was very positive resulting in like for like sales up 2.5% for the period, an excellent result given the wider economic uncertainty and strong comparatives."

Chairman Peter Cowgill said: "Our trading performance has been solid, generating positive like for like sales and in the 10 weeks since the period end like for like sales have increased by 6.4%."

United Carpets website
Rotherham

Images: unitedcarpetsandbeds.net