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Franchise Brands touts improved first quarter amid difficult markets

7th May 2025 13:50

(Alliance News) - Franchise Brands PLC on Wednesday in a statement prior to its annual general meeting said resilient demand has boosted group performance despite "challenging" market environments.

The Manchester, England-based owner of the ChipsAway, Willow Pumps and Metro Rod brands said its first quarter performance has "generally improved" since the start of the year, with a number of businesses delivering strong performances in March in particular.

At Pirtek, its franchise businesses delivered on-year System sales growth in the first quarter, with early signs of additional larger project work to come through later in the year. Filta North America also experienced "strong" on-year System sales growth, supported by a strengthened used cooking oil price in the three-month period.

Franchise Brands noted that market conditions in its Water & Waste Services unit were particularly challenging, while its autonomous business-to-consumer division, which includes the ChipsAway, Ovenclean and Barking Mad consumer brands, continues to trade "respectably" despite a "difficult franchise recruitment environment".

"While challenging macroeconomic conditions persist in many of our key markets, including more recently the uncertainty created by the recent US trade/tariff announcements, we are controlling the controllables by driving cost efficiencies and maximising group-wide sales opportunities. We also continue to reduce our sector dependency by diversifying into growth markets," said Executive Chair Stephen Hemsley.

Shares in Franchise Brands were down 1.0% at 144.50 pence each in London on Wednesday afternoon. The stock is down 27% over the past year.

By Emily Parsons, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to [email protected]

Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.


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