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Grafton Group plc Trading Update Strong Trading and Increased Operating Profit Guidance Grafton Group plc , the international building materials distributor and DIY retailer , issues this trading update for the period from 1 January 2021 to 18 April 2021 in advance of its Annual General Meeting which will be held as a virtual meeting at 10.30am today in the Group's Offices in Heron House , Corrig Road , Sandyford Business Park , Dublin 18 , D18 Y2X6 . Shareholder participation is important to us and full details of how to attend the AGM virtually and ask questions via the Lumi facility can be found within the AGM Circular and the Lumi User Guide , both of which can be accessed at https://www.graftonplc.com/investors/shareholder-services/shareholder-meetings/ Highlights Revenue growth ahead of expectations in March and April Adjusted operating profit¹ for year expected to exceed current consensus² by approximately 15 to 20 per cent due to forecast outperformance in the first half and higher property profit All distribution , retail and manufacturing branches continue to trade as essential suppliers Covid - 19 Update Whilst progress on the rollout of the Covid - 19 vaccines is encouraging , we remain focused on the health and safety of our colleagues and customers and continue to operate in line with guidance provided locally by Governments and health authorities in the countries where we operate . Trading Performance Group revenue in the period to 18 April 2021 was £ 846.8 million , an increase of 32.9 per cent on the same period last year which was impacted by the closure of branches , stores and manufacturing plants with effect from 24 March 2020 in the UK and from 28 March 2020 in Ireland , except for essential services . Group revenue was up by 8.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2019 . Despite the partial lockdown of the construction sector in Ireland , the overall Group had a good start to the year with revenue growth gaining good momentum in March and April . Woodie's in Ireland and Selco in the UK made the strongest gains , continuing the trend from the second half of last year . Strong demand and supply side constraints contributed to longer lead times , an increase in product price inflation and shortages of a number of key categories of building materials in the UK and Ireland . The table below shows the changes in average daily like - for - like revenue and in total revenue for continuing operations compared to the same period in 2020 and 2019 . Segment Merchanting - UK - Ireland - Netherlands Retailing Manufacturing Group Average Daily Like - for - Like Constant Currency Revenue Growth Period from 1 January to 18 April 2021 vs 2020 41.3 % 12.0 % 4.1 % 112.5 % 17.2 % 35.1 % 2021 vs 2019 7.5 % ( 2.0 % ) 1.1 % 69.7 % ( 14.0 % ) 9.0 % Total Revenue Sterling Period from 1 January to 18 April 2021 vs 2020 35.2 % 13.0 % 3.9 % 111.5 % 57.4 % 32.9 % Sterling 2021 vs 2019 ( 0.5 % ) ( 5.5 % ) 70.5 % 69.6 % 11.3 % 8.3 %