CONTENTS / WELCOME


Stong brands building strong businesses


IN THIS INTRODUCTION LAST YEAR, I wrote that 2020 had been a year like no other. That was true, but then 2021 came along and rose to the challenge, starting out where 2020 left off, in lockdown of everything bar the ‘essential services’. Which, thank goodness, included builders merchants and construction sites. Add material shortages, rising prices, difficulties in getting hold of drivers, and fuel restrictions to a booming building sector that was still dealing with people getting Covid, NBG Partners and Suppliers had their work cut out. By and large, they got through it, the way they have always done, together. By communicating more and better than they have ever done, Partners and Suppliers continued to up their games in order to continue to build their brands and their businesses. NBG supports Supplier brands and Partner brands, believing this to be the best way to build strong businesses. Once again, BMJ was asked to prepare this special supplement on behalf of NBG to highlight the hard work and dedication that the entire group and its Suppliers have put in this year to buy better and build the brands. Once again, the flexibility of independents and their commitment to their local markets is bringing them and their Suppliers through the tough times. Fiona Russell Horne Group Managing Editor


NBG IS A FAMILY of independent businesses all working together. This has never been more apparent than this year. I said those words this time last year and they are equally as true for 2022. NBG is a community, a democracy that works together to buy better and build stronger brands. Curve balls like the lockdowns due to Covid mean that we have to work together better, more effectively and more efficiently. I think everything that NBG has done this year and last year shows that we have managed that. In 2021 we were able to gradually return to face-to-face meetings for our Board and our Category Management Teams, plus, of course, we managed a Partner and Supplier Event in November. The huge sense of community which NBG was built upon is now stronger than it has ever been and the group is in a strong position because we have got on with doing what we do best, which is working together to build our Partners’ businesses through better buying, and building the strong brands which will help all sides of the Partnership maximise sales. Nick Oates,


NBG Managing Director


Published by BUILDERS MERCHANTS JOURNAL, on behalf of NBG, the National Buying Group.


Datateam Business Media, London Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8LY Tel: 01622 687031


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


Production Controller: Nic Mandeville


EDITORIAL


Group Managing Editor: Fiona Russell-Horne 01622 699101 frussell-horne@datateam.co.uk


Assistant Editor:


Anjali Sooknanan 01622 699186 asooknanan@datateam.co.uk


ADVERTISING


Advertisment Manager: Dawn Tucker 01622 699148 dtucker@datateam.co.uk


Publisher: Paul Ryder, pryder@datateam.co.uk


CONTENTS


4 View from the Top NBG Managing Director Nick Oates looks at how NBG is building for the future.


6 Packaging Waste NBG Board Member Rachel Fryers talks about the need to combat packaging waste.


7 Sustainability


Forterra CEO Stephen Harrison looks at the issue of sustainability, from the point of view of an energy-intensive industry.


8 Looking Forward Retail futurist Howard Saunders has some ideas about what the world might look like in the future.


9 View from the Chair NBG Chairman David Szymanski talks about how NBG Partners have dealt with the past challenges.


10 Partner Focus


IBMG has brought a number of strong Partner brands together under one operating umbrella. Its new COO Martin Stables talks about the plans.


12 Partner Focus A chat with Ed Parlato, Browns Builders Merchants’ Rising Star.


15 Partner Survey The results of NBG’s Annual Partner Survey, looking at what Partners need from their buying group.


17 Supplier Focus Mannok sticks to its NBG service commitments and reaps the rewards.


18 Suppliers of the Year Who won what at the Annual Supplier Awards.


20 NBG News


Partners were busy last year, as this round-up of activity shows.


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January 2022 3

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