REG - Howden Joinery Grp - Trading Update

Howden JoineryAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 0792C  Howden Joinery Group PLC  28 April 2026

28 April
2026

April trading update
A positive start to the year, on track with the outlook for 2026

Howden Joinery Group plc, the UK's largest specialist trade kitchen and
joinery supplier, today announces a trading update for the first four periods
of 2026 (16 weeks to 18 April 2026).

Current trading
 Underlying(1) revenue growth versus 2025 (%)  UK     International(3)  Group
 Total                                         +3.5%  +9.1%             +3.7%

 - Periods 1 to 4
 Same depot basis(2)
 - Periods 1 to 4                              +2.6%  +7.9%             +2.8%

(1) To aid comparison, underlying performance is adjusted for two fewer
trading days in P1-4 vs 2025, worth c. £11m.

(2) Same depot basis excludes new depots opened in 2025 and 2026 and closed
depots.

(3) International comprises Howdens' depots in France, Belgium and the
Republic of Ireland.

Overall, underlying Group sales were 3.7% ahead of the prior year and 2.8%
ahead on a same depot basis. Underlying UK sales were 3.5% ahead of the prior
year and 2.6% ahead on a same depot basis and International was 9.1% ahead and
7.9% on a same depot basis, against very strong prior year comparators. There
were two fewer trading days in Periods 1-4 2026 than in the prior year. We
successfully implemented price increases across all geographies at the start
of the year, as we continue to optimise the balance between margin and volume.

Howdens' supply chain remains robust despite the ongoing instability in the
Middle East and our near-sourced, vertically integrated business model is
resilient across all macro-economic conditions. We are maintaining very good
ongoing stock availability to support our trade customers to secure and
deliver work, and we have hedged fuel expenses through to the end of the year.
We will continue to stay vigilant in the current environment, keeping a sharp
focus on productivity, efficiency and disciplined cost control.

Business developments

As outlined with the Full Year results, we expect to invest around £30m in
our strategic initiatives this year to support future growth. We plan to open
around 25 new depots in the UK, and 5 in the Republic of Ireland during 2026,
in addition to refurbishing around 45 older UK depots. We are making good
progress with new product introductions for 2026, including 24 new kitchens,
and ongoing investment in our manufacturing and supply chain capabilities,
including the expansion of the Runcorn manufacturing facility which is
progressing as planned.

Outlook

The Group has traded well in the first four periods of 2026, and we continue
to invest in our in-stock, trade-only, local business model. We are mindful
that it is still early in the financial year and our sales are weighted
towards the second half, given our Autumn peak trading period. We remain
confident in our differentiated business model and we are on track with the
outlook for 2026.

Next scheduled announcement

The Group will release its Half Year results on 23 July 2026.

 

 

 For further information please contact

 Howden Joinery Group Plc                        Media Enquiries
 Jackie Callaway, CFO                            Martin Robinson, Kate Somerville, Teneo

                                               Tel: +44 (0) 20 7260 2700
 Tel: +44 (0) 207 535 1162

                                                 howdens@teneo.com (mailto:howdens@teneo.com)
 Mark Fearon, Director of IR and Communications

 Mobile: +44 (0)7711 875070

 
1.   About Howden Joinery Group Plc

Howdens is the UK's number one specialist kitchen and joinery supplier. In the
UK, the company sells kitchens and joinery products to trade customers,
primarily local builders, through 891 depots. In 2025, the Group generated
revenues of £2.4 billion and profit before tax of £344.9 million. Howdens is
a proud UK-based manufacturer, with a significant proportion of its kitchen
and joinery ranges manufactured in-house at its two principal factories in
Runcorn, Cheshire, and Howden, East Yorkshire. At the end of 2025, Howdens
operated from 79 depots in France, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland.

 
2.   Timetable for the final dividend

The timetable for payment of the proposed final dividend is shown below. A
Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("DRIP") is provided by Computershare Investor
Services PLC. The DRIP enables the Company's shareholders to elect to have
their cash dividend payments used to purchase the Company's shares. More
information can be found at https://www-uk.computershare.com/Investor/
(https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww-uk.computershare.com%2FInvestor%2F%23Home%3Fcc%3DUK%26lang%3Den%26theme%3Dcpu&data=05%7C02%7CMark.Fearon%40howdens.com%7C127b8d44c93e4af08b4d08de744c5fd8%7Cc7966bb526c04227b26e2c5fb17db44a%7C0%7C0%7C639076068574659571%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KnpQrW5gwhME68q5%2F04lg0OSFw3gaybNSKysiiwiLDU%3D&reserved=0)

 Ex-dividend date:  9 April 2026
 Record date:       10 April 2026
 Payment date:      22 May 2026

 
3.   Provisional financial calendar for 2026
 Annual General Meeting  7 May 2026
 Half Year Results       23 July 2026
 Trading update          5 November 2026
 End of financial year   26 December 2026

 
4. Cautionary statement
Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking. Although the Group believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. Because these statements contain risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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