Breedon Aggregates, the independent aggregates business, saw underlying operating profits rise in the six months to June 30 2012.
Sales fell slightly by 2% to £83m, while the increase in operating profits to £3.9m was accompanied by a rise in EBITDA of 16% to £9.7m. This reflects continued downward pressure on costs, higher selling prices and careful selection of work
Improving margins were helped by new business gains and strong performances from the acquisitions C&G Concrete and Nottingham Readymix.
In July the group made its first acquisition in Scotland with the purchase of a sand & gravel quarry near Elgin
The group says that it expects to maintain and build on the progress made in the first half.
1stMix, the new ‘small load’ ready-mixed concrete business set up in April, is now fully operational with a small fleet of trucks serving five local markets in the West and East Midlands. The group says it is performing 2in line with expectations”