UK: SIG’s sales rose by 0.3% on a like-for-like basis, the building materials distributor has said in a trading statement. Sales rose by 11% year-on-year to Euro3.4bn in 2016 but they were mainly driven by foreign exchange rates and acquisitions. In the UK & Ireland like-for-like sales increased by 1.1%, with SIG Distribution up by 1.2% and SIG Exteriors down by 1.5%. In mainland Europe life-for-like sales declined by 0.5%, with France and Germany down by 2.0% and 1.3% respectively.
"2016 was a disappointing year for SIG. While the competitive environment, particularly in the UK, was challenging, our transformational change programme, although taking the group in the right strategic direction, distracted us somewhat from our customers,” said chief executive Mel Ewell. He added that the company is planning to focus on customers, place added emphasis on sales growth and reduce its leverage in 2017.
SIG will announce its full year results for 2016 on 14 March 2017.
