Landscape products specialist Marshalls increased revenues from its continuing businesses by 22 per cent to £113m in the four months to April 30 (2013: £93m).

This compares with a nine per cent reduction for the same four month period last year following the particularly bad weather. Revenues are also ten per cent higher than the first quarter of 2012.

The Elland-based company said it had experienced a strong start to 2014 and said its full-year results to exceed expectations if market conditions remains the same.

Sales to the public sector and commercial market, which represent about 62 per cent of Marshalls’ sales, were up 19 per cent. The group is targeting markets with high growth potential such as rail, home, landscape, water management and internal natural stone flooring.

Sales to the domestic end market, which account for about 32 per cent of sales, also rose by 19 per cent and forward order books stood at 11.5 weeks, against 8.5 weeks a year ago.

Marshalls said it had made further progress in developing its international business, where revenue increased by 65 per cent in the four month period to six per cent of group sales.

Marshalls said the outlook was increasingly positive in all major markets and is increasing output to meet growing demand.