Grafton Group, which owns Woodie's DIY and Chadwicks here, said today that group average daily like‑for‑like revenue in the first four months of the year was in line with the previous year, despite ongoing headwinds in certain markets.
In a trading statement issued ahead of its AGM today, Grafton said a robust performance in Iberia, alongside more modest sales growth in the Island of Ireland and Northern Europe, was fully offset by weaker trading in the UK.
It also noted that trading in the seasonally less important early months of the year was influenced by exceptionally wet weather in Ireland and the UK.
Group revenue in the period increased by 3.2% to £830.1m on the back of two acquisitions in Ireland, including HSS Hire Ireland, which was bought in May 2025, and one month of trading by Cygnum, which supplies offsite timber frame solutions.
Grafton said that although it has experienced no material disruption to date, it continues to actively manage supply chain risks arising from conflict in the Middle East, maintaining high levels of stock availability for customers.
"Supplier price increases and higher fuel costs are being closely managed, while the group remains mindful that sustained cost inflation may place pressure on market demand and volumes," it stated.
Grafton said its Island of Ireland businesses delivered average daily like-for-like revenue growth of 1.8% in the four month period compared to the same time last year - driven by strong growth in Chadwicks.
The company noted that Chadwicks benefited from a pick‑up in construction activity in recent months after persistently wet weather earlier in the year and some forward purchases ahead of price increases.
But Woodie's trading was slightly behind strong prior‑year comparatives, when favourable weather in early Spring 2025 pulled forward demand for plant and garden related products.
Grafton said that average daily like‑for‑like revenue in Great Britain declined by 5%, due to a further weakening in construction markets. It said that after a weather‑impacted slow start to the year, subdued construction activity was affected by rising cost inflation and weaker consumer confidence linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, average daily like‑for‑like revenue in Northern Europe increased by 1.6% compared with the same time last year, driven by strong growth in Finland alongside more modest growth in the Netherlands
And in its Iberia division, Salvador Escoda's average daily like-for-like revenue was 5% ahead of last year. Grafton said the business made a strong start to the year, with a well‑executed Spring sales campaign supporting growth across the air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration product categories.
Eric Born, the chief executive of Grafton Group, said the first four months of 2026 demonstrated the company's "resilience and strategic focus".
"While markets continue to face uncertainty, we are pleased to report growth in three of our four markets, alongside significant acquisitions in our strongest growth markets of Iberia and the Island of Ireland," Mr Born said.
He said that despite headwinds, the company are currently guiding adjusted operating profit in the range of £190m- £200m for 2026 which would represent another year of progression.
