Lancashire manufacturer JJO plc posts best turnover in 150-year history

Kitchen, bedroom and bathroom manufacturer J and J Ormerod Plc (JJO) has overcome widespread uncertainty in the retail mark due to Brexit with the best turnover in its 150-year history.

The Lancashire firm, which operates across six sites in Rossendale and its HQ in Bacup, posted sales of almost £45m in its latest financial results.

Further to the record turnover, JJO this year invested nearly £1m to enhance working conditions for its staff and improve its fleet of vehicles.

Stephen Greenhalgh, the company’s joint managing director, said: “I will be honest, I did not expect the success that we have had this last trading year.

“This is our fourth successive annual increase in turnover and the best ever achieved by JJO, which next year will celebrate 150 years in operation.”

He continued: “Gross profit margin has been affected by difficult market conditions, especially the adverse exchange rate following the Brexit vote.

“It has not been possible, or desirable, to pass on these increased costs to customers, however despite this, largely due to robust control of costs, the actual decline in gross profit has only been less than 0.5 to 1%.”

Speaking further, Stephen said the result is “the best outcome we could have hoped for”.

He added: “We have the right products and we have made the right investment to become more productive without increasing production costs.

“The focus for the coming year is to continue to achieve profitable organic growth.”

JJO now plans to invest in upgrading its existing machinery and achieve further growth by leveraging contract wins.

The company recently secured a new contract with a large South West builders’ merchants that it expects will rapidly become its biggest customer.

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