Consumer business growing

Sales by the Consumer division of the British builders’ merchant Travis Perkins grew by 8.8 per cent over the year-ago period in the first six months of 2014. Like-for-like growth was also a healthy 6.8 per cent to a sales volume of GBP 638 mio. Apart from the Wickes chain of DIY stores, Travis Perkins runs the consumer distribution channels Toolstation and Tile Giant.
Wickes relocated two outlets in the first six months. Three new store openings and a further relocation are planned for the second half of the year. Online sales increased sharply this year, according to the half-yearly report.
Toolstation opened 15 new outlets, eight of them in Wickes stores, while Tile Giant reports three closures and one new opening. The distribution channel aims to have opened 25 new outlets in all by the end of the year.