THE MONTH Parker Building Supplies acquires Stamco


Parker Building Supplies (Parkers), an independent builders’ merchant, has announced that it has acquired Sussex Turnery and Moulding Company Limited (Stamco).


The acquisition was with the support of Parkers’ strategic partner, Cairngorm Capital. This is a key step in Parkers’ strategy to expand its business through a combination of acquisitions, new site development and organic growth.


Established in 1957, Stamco is a privately-owned, independent builders’ merchant and wholesale timber processing and distribution business. Headquartered in Hastings, it has five branches in Eastbourne, Hastings, Hove, Worthing and Rye. Stamco


employs 180 people and in 2018, achieved £32 million in revenue. The acquisition was prompted by the retirement of owners, Mike Cullis and Roger Brightiff, who will remain in the business short-term, to ensure an effective handover. Stamco managing director, John Cornelius, will join the Parkers senior management team to contribute to the combined company’s growth strategy. The acquisition is strategically important to Parkers the opportunity for geographic expansion and to extend its product range.


Brightiff said, “Once Mike and I had taken the decision to retire, our priority was to find a partner with shared goals and values who would help Stamco to fulfil


Huws Gray opens new branch


Independent builders merchant Huws Gray has opened a new 8,700s ft store and showroom in Whitchurch, Shropshire.


The three-acre base at Waymills was built from the ground up and features loading bays, exclusive lines and a top-quality kitchen, flooring and bathroom display area.


Manager Gavin Martin says there was great demand for another Huws Gray outlet in the region, “The first few weeks here have been absolutely fantastic, the


response from the general public and local builders and trades has been so positive,” said Martin. “They are really impressed with the offering and the layout, and the feedback is that Whitchurch has needed a store like this for a very long time.”


Bathstore goes into administration


Bathstore, the bathroom special- ist, that Wolseley used to own has gone into administration, having failed to find a buyer.


Advisory firm BDO is handling administration of the chain which has 168 stores and employs over 500 people. Companies House shows the retailer making a pretax loss of £22m on sales of £141m in the year to 31 July 2017.


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BDO partner Ryan Grant said: “Despite significant investment into the business over the past five years, Bathstore has struggled to overcome the well-documented challenges facing the UK retail sector.”


Grant saidd that Bathstore should be able to fulfil the majority of outstanding orders, though installation services have stopped.


its potential. Both companies have common heritage, outstanding


product quality and commitment to the highest standards of customer service, which makes this partnership a very good fit. We are confident that Stamco is in very


capable hands and that it will continue to thrive.” Chris Maityard, Parkers’


managing director said: “Our goal is to become the leader in the independent builders’ merchant sector in the South East. To do this we have been working to build a customer-focused business,


with great products, outstanding customer service and a strong, expanding branch network. Stamco has very similar values and ambitions to us and a skilled and committed workforce, so this partnership offers the potential for exciting opportunities going forward.”


Filplastic gets new look


Racking and storage specialist, Filplastic, has undergone the first major rebrand in its 25-year history, changing its name to Fil to reflect its expanded product and service range.


Along with the name change, the company has a bold new corporate colour scheme of mint green and blue.


Managing director Paul Taylor said: “In the early days, the business was built upon supplying plastic-coated wire baskets to the builders’ merchant industry and we still do that to this day. “Our new identity is about recognising everything we have done in the first 25 years of the business’s life and understanding where future growth and success will come from.”


The company has worked with WEST Building Supplies to open the latter’s latest branch in Scarborough. The branch, which sits on a 1.34-acre site on Thornburgh Road, Eastfield, offers a mix of products ranging from


building materials, timber and aggregates to plumbing, electrical and tools.


Oliver West, director of West Building Supplies, said the new branch was strategically positioned on the outskirts of the town, enabling the company to maximise opportunities in Scarborough and along the A64 corridor.


He said: “It has always been the intention to grow the business so launching in Scarborough is a very exciting move.


Fil helped West Building Supplies with the design of the new branch as well as suppling and fitting racking and shop shelving.


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