Breedon Aggregates (BREE) delivered a robust first-half performance, pushing turnover up by 25 per cent to £125m, and underlying pre-tax profits by 77 per cent to £9.4m. The UK's largest independent quarrying business sold 3.6m tonnes of aggregates, up from 2.7m a year earlier, while ready-mixed concrete sales jumped from 283,000 cubic metres to 326,000.
Turnover was boosted by the inclusion of quarries acquired from landscape specialist Marshalls (MLSH), and there was also one month's contribution from Huntsman's Quarries which was bought on 1 June for £15m. In addition, agreement has been reached with the Competition & Markets Authority allowing the full integration of former Aggregate Industries operations acquired in Scotland, and this will allow the company to crystalise cost synergies identified at the time of the acquisition.