Kitchen, joinery and bedroom furniture supplier Howdens has reported a positive start to the year.

According to its latest trading update for the 16 weeks to 19 April 2025, total underlying group sales rose 3% compared to the same period last year.

Underlying UK revenue was +2.6% ahead of the prior year and +1.4% ahead on a same depot basis and International was +17.0% ahead and +14.8% on a same depot basis.

“We implemented price increases across all geographies at the start of the year,” Howdens said. “These are being retained at acceptable levels as we continue to maintain the right balance between margin and volume.”

As for ongoing developments, Howdens plans to open between 20-25 new depots in the UK this year and refurbish around 60 older UK depots.

Furthermore, the group will launch 23 new kitchen ranges in 2025, as well as extending its fitted bedroom furniture offer.

“We’re making more colours, styles and finishes available to more budgets. This includes a new classic ‘in frame’ timber kitchen family extending the reach of our higher priced kitchen ranges. Our fitted bedroom offering has been extended with six further introduced this year. Our paint to order and solid worksurface ranges are generating encouraging attachment rates to kitchen sales.”

Howdens is also building its international growth with its new leadership team “settling in well and focusing on building out our depot teams’ capabilities and driving existing depot sales in France”.

Commenting on Howdens’ current trading Andrew Livingston, Chief Executive said: “We have made a positive start to the year with trading in line with our expectations. Our focus remains on implementing our strategic initiatives to support our trade customers, primarily self-employed builders.

“They are adept at winning business, aided by Howdens’ differentiated model and our well incentivised depot teams. Our approach continues to deliver sustainable market share gains, and we are on track with our outlook for 2025.”