Positive trading performance and on track with the outlook for 2026
Howden Joinery Group plc, the UK’s largest trade kitchen and joinery supplier, today announces an update on current trading, which comprises Periods 7 to 11 from 14 June to 31 October 2026.
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Sales growth versus 2025 (%) |
UK |
International3 |
Group |
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Reported1 |
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- Periods 7 to 11 |
+6.8% |
+6.2% |
+6.8% |
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- Year-to-date |
+5.0% |
+7.2% |
+5.1% |
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Pro-forma sales2 |
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- Periods 7 to 11 |
+1.8% |
+10.2% |
+2.1% |
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- Year-to-date |
+2.4% |
+10.3% |
+2.7% |
Sales performance
Group sales increased by 6.8% in Periods 7 to 11 and by 5.1% year-to-date. Reported sales include those of DIY Kitchens from the date of acquisition (23 June 2026).
UK sales increased by 6.8% in Periods 7 to 11 and by 5.0% year-to-date, in challenging macro-economic conditions. On a pro-forma sales basis2, which includes the sales of DIY Kitchens in both years, UK sales increased by 1.8% in periods 7 to 11 and were 2.4% ahead year to date. We achieved record sales during TradeFest®, our peak trading period, supported by our differentiated business model and a significant proportion of new kitchen and joinery product in our line-up. DIY Kitchens has performed well and as expected, post-acquisition.
International sales3 in local currency increased by 6.2% in Periods 7 to 11 (10.2% ahead excluding the impact of the planned French depot closures2) as customer appreciation of our differentiated in-stock, trade model continued to increase.
We remain on track with our outlook for 2026 and expect to deliver Group underlying profit before tax in line with current market expectations4.
Commenting on Howdens’ performance and outlook Andrew Livingston, Chief Executive said:
“Our trade only business has continued to grow supported by our highly engaged and well incentivised local teams, industry leading product ranges, and consistently high stock availability.
DIY Kitchens traded in line with our expectations. Its differentiated customer proposition and new route to market further expands our addressable customer base in the UK.
Our on-going productivity and efficiency programmes are supporting competitive pricing across all our kitchen and joinery categories and are helping to mitigate inflationary pressures. We remain on track with the outlook for 2026.”
1 Howdens acquired DIY Kitchens on 23 June 2026. It is reported within the UK business and included in reported sales from the acquisition date.
2 Pro-forma sales growth is provided as additional comparative context and is distinct from reported sales growth. For the UK, the comparison includes
DIY Kitchens sales from the date of acquisition in the current-year and its sales in the corresponding prior-year period. For International, the
comparison excludes the impact of strategic optimisation in the International (French) depot network, with depots closed in France
in 2025 (2 depots) and 2026 (6 depots).
3 International growth is shown in local currency and comprises Howdens depots in France, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland.
4 2026 Full Year underlying profit before tax consensus, which is published on the Company’s website, is an average of £361m.
For further information please contact: |
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Howden Joinery Group plc |
Media Enquiries |
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Jackie Callaway, CFO Tel: +44 (0) 207 535 1162 |
Martin Robinson, Kate Somerville, Teneo +44 (0) 20 7260 2700 or howdens@teneo.com |
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Mark Fearon, Director of IR and Communications Mobile: +44 (0)7711 875070 - ir@howdens.com |
Notes to editors:
1. About Howden Joinery Group plc
Howdens is the UK’s number one trade kitchen supplier. The Company sells kitchens and joinery products to trade customers, primarily local builders, through 893 depots in the UK and 82 depots in France, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland. In 2025, the Group reported 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.
In June 2026, the Group acquired DIY Kitchens, a vertically integrated business which sells its products exclusively on-line, principally to end users looking to self-manage the purchase of their kitchen. DIY’s on-line self-service model focussed on non-trade customers is quite distinct from Howden Trade’s relationship based full-service trade only model and operationally it is managed independently of Howden Trade.
2. Cautionary statement
Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking. Although the Company 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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