Flooring supplier Westex makes profit gains despite sales fall

30th November 2009 | flooring | Yorkshire carpet manufacturer Westex has reinforced its position as one of Britain's best run home furnishing manufacturers after delivering a £3.8m pre tax profit in the year to the end of February.

The Cleckheaton manufacturer suffered its first sales drop in more than five years, (12% to £16m), but earnings rose more than 7% from last year, giving the firm its best return during the same five year period.

Westex's 23.7% pre-tax margin is class leading in the carpet manufacturing sector, and thought to be one of the best across the whole of the UK home furnishing industry. Pre-tax profits have risen in each of the past five years.

The Carpet Foundation affiliated manufacturer makes carpets for both the residential and contract sectors. In the company's director report, it said it had 'achieved acceptable results in a difficult year.'