Aga says it is on track to sell €60 million worth of cast iron cookers and stoves in Ireland this year, with local operation Waterford Stanley contributing the bulk of sales.
The company's interim results, released yesterday, reveal half-year revenues of £273.9 million (€403.2 million), up from £253.1 million in 2006.
Operating profit has increased 8 per cent to £22.8 million, generating earnings per share of 14.4p and a dividend of 3.85p.
It is the sixth successive year of growth for Aga, which bought Waterford Stanley two years ago.Irish sales are up 10 per cent, in line with expectations, said a spokeswoman for Waterford Stanley.
She said that growth was being driven by a strong "repair, maintenance and improvement" market in Ireland. "It's people renovating, and also new builds," she said, "not necessarily first-time buyers, but people trading up."
Aga's operations have been boosted by the June sale of its US home fashions line, Domain, which had been returning a small loss, and the continuation of its prison refurbishment programme in the UK. The company also won a contract to outfit cookers in Whole Foods Market's first British operation.
