Fitted furniture manufacturer Crown Imperial has reported a reduction in sales and widening losses.
According to its latest filed accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025, total sales fell 10% to £40.5m from £45m in 2024.
UK sales were down to £40.4m from £44.8m, while exports declined from £247,000 to £123,000.
Pre-tax losses resulted at £5.7m, widening from a loss of £3.2m recorded in the previous year.
Stated within its report, the company said: “This year the group has experienced a further reduction in activity levels. This has been seen widely throughout our sector as household budgets continued to be impacted by inflation and high interest rates. The continued squeeze on family finances often results in high value projects such as kitchen replacements being delayed.
“Following a drop in sales of over 20% last year, a number of significant projects were initiated in our distribution operation in an attempt to increase both margin and turnover. Own-brand appliances were sourced directly from factories in the Far East and a new contract sales division was created.
“Despite these efforts, turnover in the distribution side of the operation declined a further 10% this year. Following this further drop, it was decided that the distribution volumes no longer warranted three separate despatch depots and our hubs in Bristol and Bolton ceased operations at the start of 2025. All staff at these two locations were made redundant.”
