Marshalls upbeat after profits rise 15 per cent

30th Aug 2013 15:18

Landscape products group Marshalls said first half pre-tax profits rose 15 per cent to eight million pounds after business picked up in the second quarter and it reaped the benefits of last year's restructuring.Sales to the public sector and commercial end of the market were down 6% in the first half while those to the domestic market fell 3%. But the concrete paving specialist reported seeing a positive change in customer sentiment in the second quarter and said order intake had increased during May and June. It said commercial order intake had been particularly strong with the group securing its biggest ever natural stone paving order in Manchester, a £6m stone-cladding deal for a new office building in the City of London and two significant export orders for street furniture in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Chief Executive Graham Holden said: "Economic conditions are improving and the forward indicators are more positive."Shares in Marshall were down 0.33% at 151.5p at 15:36.TB