Volume soft furnishings supplier takes margin hit; Looks to build retail chain

24th September 2009 | supply | North west cushion manufacturer Caldeira says it is encouraged by the first eight months trading at Fabric Warehouse, the 14-store retailer it bought out of administration last year.

The firm, which makes soft furnishings from factories in Liverpool and China, insists 2009 will be a year of consolidation after its pre-tax margin slipped to 13.4% in 2008.

It made a pre-tax profit of £844k from sales of £6.3m, and said a combination of competitive pressures and weak sterling could adversely impact margins again this year.