With revenue up 4.3% on last year, joinery and kitchen giant Howden Joinery Group Plc, which has six outlets dotted throughout Gloucestershire's retail map, says it enjoyed good revenue growth and gained market share over the first half of this year.

And with international business on track thanks to an improvement in depot performance, the familiar building trade brand says it is looking to boost its UK outlet chain in 30 new locations as well as adding five more depots abroad - the latter bringing the foreign total to 15.

Andrew Livingston, Chief Executive said: "Howdens performance in the first half was encouraging and we gained market share in a challenging marketplace. We continued to invest in our strategic initiatives which is strengthening our differentiated business model and delivering positive results."

He added that the business is now focusing on "significant growth opportunities in our core UK kitchen and joinery markets".

"To access these, we are progressing our new depot and reformat programme and making range and product innovations. We are also manufacturing more of what we sell and, alongside the provision of unequalled stock availability, we are adding further digital capabilities to support our trade customers and depot teams."

Across the water, Howdens says it continues to identify opportunities to develop its business model internationally and is making good progress in establishing its presence abroad to lay "the foundations for future success".

Highlights of the results include:

● Revenue of £966.3m, which was 4.3% ahead of last year.

● Revenue growth in H1 in a challenging marketplace, gaining market share in the period.

● Maintained industry leading gross margins of 60.8%.

● Profit before tax of £112.3m - in line with the same period last year (£111.9m), after £16m investment in strategic initiatives in H1.

Howdens added that the majority of cost increases were due to higher inflation, offset by productivity and efficiency improvements. It ended the period with a strong balance sheet of £165.5m cash at the end of the period.

Altogether, Howdens also completed 26 depot revamps and relocations this year and the group expects to complete around 85 before 2025. It has also overseen he launch of 11 new kitchen ranges for 2024 and is "refreshing" its joinery, paint to order and solid worksurface products, as well as adding new bedroom ranges.

As a statistical illustration of the company's activity, it added that its new kitchen frontal and end-panel line at its manufacturing site will produce around two million pieces, which marks a rise from 600,000 in the same period of 2023.

The report added: "We continue to invest in technology and infrastructure to maintain these high service levels. Through our cross docking (XDC) network and 'Daily traders' initiatives we are optimising stock across the network and rebalancing where we hold it in the most efficient way.

"Despite the continued challenging market environment, our builder customers remain busy. We are maintaining our focus on competitive pricing to support them, while balancing ongoing inflationary pressures to optimise volumes. We are also maintaining a disciplined approach to managing our cost base to optimise operational performance, while implementing our strategic initiatives to support continued market outperformance and long-term growth. This will stand us in good stead for when market conditions improve."

The report also notes that Howdens expects a continuation of higher freight costs due to rising container costs: "At current pricing around £5m of additional costs is expected in the second half as inventory procured and shipped in H1 is sold."

Capital expenditure is anticipated at around £125m including investments to support future growth.