Travis Perkins revenue up 8%

Builders’ merchant and retail business Travis Perkins has reported revenue increases of 8% to £3.1bn.

Excluding the extra income gained when the company bought plumbing and heating group BSS for £624m last year, like-for-like turnover is up 5%.

Profit before tax was also up 20% to £217m, and net debt reduced by £205m, before the BSS acquisition.

Chief executive Geoff Cooper said: “Over the last four years we have seen three clear turning points in the course of the recession in construction markets - a sharp downturn, a return to stability in activity at low levels, and a gradual but choppy recovery, which still has a long way to go.

“At each turn we decisively adapted our stance to trading, investment and cash,” he said.