7th Jul 2005 07:00
Johnson Service Group PLC07 July 2005 7 July 2005 Johnson Service Group PLC Pre-Close Trading Statement for the Half Year to 25th June 2005 Johnson Service Group PLC, the textile related services and facilitiesmanagement Group announces its pre-close trading update today. Overall the Group has traded satisfactorily during the first half of the year. The trading environment in the textile rental division remains unchanged thoughwe continue to be encouraged by the performance of the workwear rental business,where revenue and volumes are now showing small year on year growth. The linenand hospitality business continues to show good revenue growth. The corporatewear division is performing strongly, with the recent acquisitionsperforming at, or above, our expectations. The facilities management and specialist supplies division continues to performwell. The trading conditions in the retail sector, led by weaker consumer demand,continue to affect our drycleaning division where we have seen littleimprovement since the first three months of the year. However, the action takento reduce appropriate costs has improved the operating margin as expected and weremain prepared to take further action if necessary. As a result of the changing seasonality of the Group's business, profits areexpected to be biased towards the second half of the year. The Board remainsconfident in the prospects for the Group as a whole and continues to believethat we will achieve a satisfactory outcome for the year. The Group expects to announce its interim results on Monday 12 September 2005. For further information, please contact: Johnson Service Group PLC Hudson Sandler Stuart Graham, CEO Michael SandlerJim Wilkinson, CFO Sandrine GallienTelephone: 020 7290 0390 Telephone: 020 7796 4133Website: johnsonplc.com Notes to editors - The Johnson Service Group The Johnson Service Group is a support services business with two principalactivities: Textile Related Services and Facilities Management. The Group's coreactivities have been developed and strengthened through a combination ofstrategic acquisitions and organic growth. Textile Related Services includes some of the industry's leading names. JohnsonsApparelmaster is Britain's leading workwear rental business; CCM specialises inthe manufacture and sourcing of workplace garments; Dimensions is the country'sleading supplier of retail corporatewear; DCC is the leading supplier ofcorporatewear to the finance industry; Johnsons Cleaners, Britain's No. 1drycleaning brand, and Sketchley, provide a nationwide network of circa 600retail drycleaning shops. Jeeves of Belgravia provides an exclusive and bespokedrycleaning service within the London area. The linen and hospitality businesscomprises Stalbridge Linen, which is Britain's leading supplier of linen andchefs' wear to the leisure, professional catering and corporate hospitalitysectors and Johnson Hospitality Services, which is the British market leader inthe hire of catering equipment, hospitality furniture and related items tosporting, entertainment and similar events. Johnson Workplace Management, provides a comprehensive range of services basedon a unique business model. This focuses on management, property expertise andthe provision of a wide range of support services to FTSE businesses, nationalcompanies and institutions. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Johnson Service