Summary:**Grafton Group Stands Firm on Full‑Year Profit Forecast Despite Challenges**Grafton Group has reite
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**Grafton Group Stands Firm on Full‑Year Profit Forecast Despite Challenges**
Grafton Group has reiterated its confidence in delivering full‑year operating profit between £190 million and £200 million, even as the broader construction and DIY sectors navigate a turbulent economic climate. The announcement follows the release of its half‑year results, which showed a noticeable uplift in revenue across the company’s core brands—Woodie's DIY, Chadwicks, HSS Hire Ireland and Cygnum—despite lingering headwinds from supply‑chain constraints and fluctuating consumer sentiment.
**Key Developments**
The interim report highlighted a 4.2 % rise in group revenue compared with the same period last year, driven primarily by stronger performance in the Irish DIY market and a rebound in equipment hire activity. Woodie's DIY reported a 5.1 % increase in like‑for‑like sales, buoyed by renewed home‑improvement spending as households continue to invest in property upgrades. Chadwicks, the builders’ merchant arm, saw modest growth thanks to a recovery in private‑housing starts, while HSS Hire Ireland benefited from increased demand for specialist tools on infrastructure projects. Cygnum, the off‑site manufacturing division, maintained steady order books, underscoring the resilience of its modular building solutions. Management emphasized that the profit guidance remains unchanged because the revenue uplift offsets higher