WALKER Greenbank, the furnishings group, yesterday reported a 23 per cent rise in interim profits to £1.7 million.
In the six months to 31 July, the company's turnover reached £33m, up from £30.8m in the same period last year.
The group said
that all of its brands – which include Harlequin, Morris & Co, Sanderson and Zoffany – had "performed strongly".
Brand sales increased by 8 per cent in the UK retail market, while sales in Europe rose by 16 per cent – or 4 per cent in local currency – and sales in the rest of the world rose by 34 per cent.
Ian Kirkham, chairman of Walker Greenbank, said: "We currently expect to be in line with market expectations for the full year, dependent on the key autumn selling period."
Walker Greenbank, which has a market cap of about £13m, was formed in 1986 and transferred from the main market to the Alternative Investment Market in 2003.
Kirkham added: "Anstey, our wallpaper factory in Loughborough, continues to benefit from the growing popularity of wallpaper. Standfast, our fabric printing factory based in Lancaster, continues to invest in efficient equipment."
