Toolstation made good progress during 2023 reporting 6.6% sales growth for the 12 months to 31st December demonstrating the businesses’ ability to win share in difficult markets.In the UK, where sales grew by 5.3%, network expansion was limited in the year to a net seven new stores reflecting a combination of market outlook, significant investment in the network in recent years and management focus on the opening of the new distribution facility in Pineham, Northamptonshire. Pineham opened in Q3 with 500,000 square feet of capacity and semi-automation technology providing distribution capability as the business grows over the next decade. As a result of Pineham coming on-line, the Bridgwater distribution centre was closed in Q2 2023. A further review of the retail distribution network proposed closing the Daventry distribution centre which was announced in Q1.UK adjusted operating profit grew by 9.5% to £23m which included around £13m of higher operating costs related to start-up and dual running costs at Pineham. Management expects to recover these costs over the next three years as supply chain efficiencies come through.In September the Toolstation UK management team set out their vision for the future of the business at a Capital Markets Update with the ambition to grow revenue to £1bn by 2027 with operating margin increasing to around 8% through scale efficiencies and margin enhancement opportunities.
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