Marshalls expects healthy orders for the current year

Marshalls has started the current year with the prospect of healthy orders as it announced a strong rise in pre-tax profit.

Figures for the year to 31 December 2002 showed a 15.6% rise in pre-tax profit to £49.4m (2001: £42.7m).

Turnover rose 4.3% to £342m (2001:£328m), while operating profit was also up 11% to £50.3m (2001:£45.3m).

All divisions achieved sales growth with landscape products increasing by 2.8%, clay products by 2.9% and natural stone products, with a full-year contribution from Stancliffe Stone, by 27.6%.

"Customer demand remains strong and, as a consequence of the backlog of domestic work that has built up during the year, the installers of our products began 2003 with healthy order books," said chairman Christopher Burnett.

"The commercial and public sector markets, where likewise we have seen a backlog of work, also remain strong."