Annual results for Breedon Aggregates show a rise in revenue to £224.5m in 2013 from £173.5m last time as pre-tax profit ticked-up to £12.4m from £5.6m.

Sales in the group’s core markets last year showed:

6.1 million tonnes of aggregates sold (2012: 4.3 million tonnes)

1.4 million tonnes of asphalt sold (2012: 1.2 million tonnes)

620,000 cubic metres of ready-mixed concrete sold (2012: 490,000 cubic metres)

Things are looking even better for this year with company chiefs confident of an ongoing construction recovery.

Group chief executive Simon Vivian said: “The outlook has improved steadily since the end of the first quarter in 2013, with business confidence increasing and the economic indicators more positive than for some years.

“We therefore have genuine reasons to be optimistic about the prospects for 2014 and 2015.

“Following completion of the Lafarge Tarmac merger and the creation of Hope Construction Materials in January last year, the industry in the UK looks more stable than it has for some years and this can only be good for Breedon.

“The acquisitions made last year have increased the scale of our business and will deliver ongoing benefits.

“We have an experienced management team and a dedicated workforce.  With market conditions looking favourable, we are confident of delivering an improved performance in 2014.”