Grafton: Weather saw sales plunge

BUILDING materials group Grafton said January trading was “badly affected” by the bad weather and resulted in sales plunging €25 million below the level a year earlier.

The company said that following this difficult start, trading in Britain, which accounts for more than 70% of its turnover, picked up with like for like sales growth in the following four months.

It said it has seen a “strong resurgence” in new house building in Britain and is optimistic that the positive effects of this on its businesses will continue.