NEW PARTNERS D
uquemin & Ozanne, a relatively new business in a market dominated by national merchants and long-established
independents, joined NBG in early 2025 to strengthen its ability to compete locally. The company’s Managing Director, Martyn Duquemin, had experience of buying groups as part of a prior role and once introduced to NBG knew he wanted the advantages available to NBG Partners.
His objective matched NBG’s own ethos: build stronger relationships, share knowledge, and enhance business performance. Duquemin said: “There’s a genuine sense of camaraderie among NBG Partners, like-minded individuals facing similar day-to-day challenges yet working together in a supportive and collaborative way.”
That sense of unity was a key reason for joining and has helped guide how Duquemin & Ozanne makes the most of its partnership. Since joining NBG, Duquemin says the change has been significant: “The partnership has accelerated the process of gathering information through access to an experienced network and it has allowed us to enter markets we’d not previously served. We’ve been able to open accounts with Suppliers who might not otherwise have dealt with us due to our smaller buying power. Being an NBG Partner makes the whole process so much easier.” The business’s Alderney branch operates as a mixed merchant, and the impact of NBG has been felt there too. “The branch in Alderney has found access to other products and Supplier programmes that it would not previously have been able to offer,” Duquemin
Left: Martyn Duquemin & right: Stewart Shaw NBG
IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF
THE
A chat with some of the newest members of the NBG family.
said. “That extension of range has meant we’ve been able to satisfy more diverse customer needs and strengthen the branch’s market positioning.”
Beyond Supplier access, Duquemin & Ozanne has seen the benefits of practical and shared learning within NBG. Contributing sales trends and customer feedback in regional meetings and informal channels helps the group align deals to real- world demand. Partners contribute detailed insights into product performance and end- user preferences, and that sharing reduces the risk of trialling new ranges alone. Duquemin said: “All the Partners have been really helpful – we have a WhatsApp group and if anyone has a problem or needs advice, everyone’s quick to offer assistance.” Duquemin & Ozanne’s experience of NBG’s buying power is echoed by new NBG Associates. Malcolm Davies, at Tec-Supplies Kent Ltd, said: “The combined buying power as a co-op of companies and the ability to secure access to preferred terms and rebates are major benefits of being part of NBG. “We’re very much looking forward to the increased access to Suppliers as well as the advantages that enhanced buying power will grant us.”
Neilson’s Joinery Superstore, which became part of Cowal Group – another NBG Partner – in July, shows how working with NBG can unlock previously closed trading opportunities.
Stewart Shaw, Director at Cowal, said: “For Neilson’s, the benefit of being part of Cowal and NBG was evident from day one in the purchasing power. NBG opens trading avenues with Suppliers who, prior to Neilson’s becoming an Associate, did not want to trade with us for various strategic reasons that are no longer a hurdle.” The relationship between NBG and their Partners and Associates is reciprocal. Duquemin & Ozanne contributes market intelligence and regional perspective that help NBG refine the deals it negotiates. By sharing sales information and customer insights, the company helps ensure agreements deliver true value. That reciprocity strengthens the negotiating position of the whole group and gives Suppliers confidence that deals are grounded in real demand.
For Duquemin & Ozanne, NBG partnership is a platform for measured, sustainable growth. It provides Supplier access and a broader product range while allowing merchants to draw on the practical knowledge of Partners. In a sector where scale and relationships matter, collective bargaining combined with support from other independent merchants offers a strong route to being more competitive and creating opportunities for growth.
16 January 2026
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