NEWSROUND Haldane Fisher buys Greengates
Timber and builders merchant Haldane Fisher has bought Greengates Builders Merchants Ltd, located in Accrington. The move further solidifies Haldane Fisher’s presence in the region and reflects the company’s commitment to enhancing its offering to better serve customers in the Northwest of England. Simon Walling, who leads the Haldane Fisher brand in England and the Isle of Man, said: “We are very pleased to have completed the acquisition of Greengates Builders Merchants Ltd. This represents a very exciting opportunity for Haldane
Fisher and will undoubtedly complement our existing branch network and plans to further expand our footprint in the Northwest of England. We look forward to working with the Greengates team long into the next year and beyond.” The Greengates business adds
to the most recent Morecambe branch, the already established Heckmondwike, Makerfield sites, and newly-refurbished Garstang branch. This now brings the total number of Haldane Fisher branches in England to five. As part of the acquisition, all existing staff at Greengates Builders Merchants Ltd have been retained by Haldane Fisher. This will ensure continuity in service and expertise, with over 20 dedicated team members continuing to contribute to the success of the business.
Steve Pickup, former managing director of Greengates Builders
BMF Winter Sales Forecast reflects continuing economic uncertainty
The latest Building Materials Forecast Report from the Builders Merchants Federation reflects on a year affected by the continuing uncertainty affecting the UK economy and foresees no dramatic uplift in 2024. With both sales volumes and sales values for heavyside building materials falling over the course of the year, the BMF’s final forecast for the 2023 shows negative growth of
-3.5% over 2022 – down from -1.4% in our previous forecast, published mid-year.
The BMF are also forecasting a further decline in Q1 2024, which it anticipates will be down by -2.2% compared to last year. However, building material sales are forecast to improve later in the year, as interest rates begin to fall and we move towards a general election. While the forecast remains cautious,
Artex rebrands to Okarno
Artex, a distributor of some of the UK’s best known construction brands, including Gyproc, Thistle and Weber, has announced a rebrand to Okarno.
With a strapline ‘There are no others like us’, the re-brand is designed to create a common sense of purpose, energy, and enthusiasms.
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Jason Smith, managing director at Okarno, said: “The Okarno brand represents a modern yet adaptable style that retains links to our heritage. This is important for our customers as we have strong and deep roots in our market place. Although we have a new name, we are still the same great business, with the same
great products and people.” Okarno combines trade brands and deliver them directly through three service offerings.
it does envisage sales of building materials tipping into positive territory, with annual growth of +0.4% anticipated for 2024, increasing to +1.0% in 2025. BMF CEO, John Newcomb said: “14 interest rate rises alongside the effects of a cost-of-living crisis have taken their toll both on consumer confidence and the new house building market for
Merchants Ltd, said: “Joining forces with Haldane Fisher marks an exciting next chapter in the history of our builders merchant.
“We are confident that working together will bring about new opportunities, enhance our capabilities, and contribute positively to the continued success of the business for many more years. “Our existing customers can expect the same level of service they have come to trust, now backed by the resources and expertise of Haldane Fisher.”
well over a year, we have seen both volume and value sales through builders’ merchants fall during 2023. Against this background, we are unlikely to see a dramatic upturn in 2024, but we are cautiously optimistic that we will see the first signs
of recovery.”
Thomas Lowe, BMF’s Industry Analyst and Economist, said: “The long-term economic health of the merchanting sector is improving, as net inflation of building materials settles.”
Customers can choose from single pallets, mixed pallet loads, through to small parcels.
Customers can order as little as a single pallet, whether that’s a full pallet of a single product, or a mixed pallet of products from across the range. At the same time, the Okarno brand positions the business as a supply chain sustainable champion within the industry.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net January 2024
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