Howdens Reports Half-Year Loss of £14m

Howdens Joinery Group PLC has reported on half-year trading, covering the six months ended 13th June 2020.  

Key points from the report follow and you can view the full report here.

Financial highlights: 

• Howden Group results were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Group revenue in the first half of £465.0m (2019: £652.6m). Howden Joinery UK depot revenue reduced by 29.0% to £453.4m (2019: £638.1m), and by 30.3% on a same depot basis². Split by quarter, Howden Joinery UK revenue was 1.1% higher in the first quarter and 55.9% lower in the second quarter.

• Gross profit margin of 59.4% (2019: 61.9%), reflected mix changes and the impact of carrying fixed costs during reduced levels of production; 

• Loss before tax of £14.2m (2019: profit before tax of £78.1m), included government furlough income of £21.5m;  
  
  
• Net cash of £253.4m at 13 June 2020 (28 December 2019: £267.4m net cash; 15 June 2019: £217.1m net cash), assisted by £76m support from Government schemes, including tax deferrals, and actions taken by the Group to conserve cash. 
  
  
• Loss before tax of £14.2m (2019: profit before tax of £78.1m), included government furlough income of £21.5m;  
  
  
• Net cash of £253.4m at 13 June 2020 (28 December 2019: £267.4m net cash; 15 June 2019: £217.1m net cash), assisted by £76m support from Government schemes, including tax deferrals, and actions taken by the Group to conserve cash.  

Chief Executive, Andrew Livingston, said: 

"Howdens performance in the first half of 2020 was materially impacted by COVID-19, with sales for the period being significantly lower than last year. The shortfall in sales all occurred in the second quarter, which coincided with the start of lockdown in the UK, and led to us making an overall loss of £14m in the first half. Our performance improved period on period in the second quarter as we found ways to re-open for business safely and with full stock availability. UK Depot Sales in the first four week period of the second half were up 2% year on year. 

"During the period our first priority has been the health and wellbeing of our staff and our customers, whose ability to work was curtailed by lockdown. We introduced new ways of operating, provided new services to support our customers during this difficult time and reduced cash expenditure, whilst protecting essential areas. 

"Given the COVID related and other economic uncertainties, we remain cautious about underlying market conditions, however we believe a more challenging and demanding marketplace can play to the advantage of our in-stock, local model."  

Operational developments: 

• On 24 March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Howdens announced the temporary closure of all its UK depots, along with its manufacturing and distribution sites. From late April, in line with the latest Government guidance and with additional safe working processes in place, Howdens began a phased reopening of depots, manufacturing and distribution. By period 6, all sites were open and operating safely. 
  
  
• 13 new kitchen ranges introduced in H1 2020, 11 of which were in stock for the start of the year and synchronised with a promotional offer; 
  
  
• Other new product introductions include extending the range of Lamona new technology appliances and 11 new worktops; 
  
  
• Further progress on developing the new digital offering, with the new Howdens.com web platform improving brand awareness and leading to increased web visits, online brochure requests and resulting depot contacts, and the online trade customer area seeing a significant increase in adoption and usage;  
  
  
• Capital expenditure of £22.3m (2019: £24.1m) included the next phase of our Raunds distribution centre and digital investments.  

CURRENT TRADING AND OUTLOOK FOR 2020 

In the first four-week period of H2 (Period 7, to 11 July 2020), total sales at Howdens Joinery UK depots rose by 2.2% on the same period in 2019, and by 0.3% on a same depot basis². 

During the course of 2020, we now plan to open around 20 depots in the UK and France. We also intend to extend our mature depot test by refurbishing around 30 older depots to the new format during the year, 18 of which were completed in the first half, and introduce vertically racked product to a further 25 depots without further modifications, five of which have been completed.  

In 2020, we expect additional operating costs of £20m to be incurred in respect of: the one-year impact of running the old National Distribution Centre whilst also incurring the costs of the second phase of our new Raunds distribution facility; increased pension charges; and additional depreciation. These are in addition to the impact of on-going growth in the business, inflationary pressures, new depots and COVID-19. Compared to 2019, we will benefit from not bearing the £5.8m costs of closing our operations in the Netherlands and Germany. Capital expenditure of around £60m (2019: £61.1m) is expected, including the final phase of the Raunds distribution centre, together with further investment in digital, new depots and depot refurbishments. 

We continue to be cautious given the economic uncertainties that we face, with our key Period 11 trading ahead of us and with consumer and regulatory reactions to COVID-19 making predictions of future levels of demand difficult. However, despite this, we remain confident in our business model for the future. 

Source : Howden Joinery Group PLC

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