Cashbuild's financial performance: Navigating market challenges and growth strategies

CASHBUILD, one of southern Africa's largest retailers of building materials and associated products, grew revenue from market share gains in a very difficult consumer spending environment through the year to end-June 2025.

- EDWARD WEST

The group, which sells to a predominantly cash-paying customer base through 318 stores, saw its margins come under pressure in spite of good cost controls, chief operating officer Shane Thoresson said in an interview on Wednesday.

The average selling price inflation remained steady and low, at 1.7%. Thoresson said although the market was still tough, they had seen a slight uptick in market sentiment towards the end of their financial year, and footfall was up 6%, indicating “more customers are coming through our doors.”

He said there was likely little scope to grow margins significantly in the new financial year. There were, however, a range of initiatives implemented over the past few years that should help to boost performance. There were also new initiatives underway, such as the launch of two new brands, and early indications from the first two stores from these brands were positive.