British business supplies distributor Bunzl forecast a 6% rise in revenue for the first half of the year as customers stockpiled its face masks, gloves and sanitisers during the coronavirus crisis.
Shares in the FTSE 100 firm, which have jumped sharply since hitting their seven-year lows in March, gained 6% in early trade on 15 June as it also estimated a modest increase in its operating margin.
The company said demand for the products it makes for the grocery, safety and healthcare sectors jumped in the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Outlook
Bunzl, however, said it does not expect the significant increase in volume for COVID-19-related products to continue into the second half as customers have stockpiled enough products for the rest of the year.
The company added that it intends to repay employee-related government support packages and bring forward its tax deferral payments as a result of the better-than-expected trading performance.
Investment firm Exane BNP Paribas estimates the furlough package to total about £5 million ($6.24 million) to £10 million.
Bunzl has not disclosed the number of employees it has furloughed and declined to comment on the details.
