Howdens is pleased to announce that its UK Howden Joinery depots have achieved product sales of £1 billion for 2014 to date, with three weeks trading of the financial year still to come. This is the first time that annual product sales in the UK have exceeded £1 billion. Since Howdens opened its first depots in 1995, it has grown sales every year, except for 2009 at the height of the "credit crunch", to reach this landmark of £1 billion of sales.

Chief Executive Matthew Ingle said "This is a very special day for Howdens. Reaching £1 billion of sales within 20 years of opening our first depots is testimony to the drive and enthusiasm of all the people who work at Howdens. Howdens is a unique business model and we have not achieved this landmark by accident. Our strong relationships with our suppliers and the total commitment of our staff – both in Supply and the Depots - ensures that the more than 300,000 building trade professionals who rely on the business receive the best possible service, no call back quality and the best local price day in and day out. Above all, we recognise that kitchens are the centre of our homes, and we take this very seriously.

"There remains much to do. Howdens' future is as exciting and promising as that day in 1995 when the story began. I am very proud to mark this landmark moment in the Howdens' story today."

Note for editors:

Howden Joinery Group Plc is the parent company of Howden Joinery (Howdens) and employs over 6,600 people, primarily in the UK. Howdens is engaged in the sale of kitchens and joinery products to trade customers, primarily small local builders, through over 580 UK depots, and is the UK's leading supplier of kitchens. Around one-third of the products it sells are manufactured in the company's own factories in Runcorn, Cheshire, and Howden, East Yorkshire. The business also has a small operation in northern France.