NEWSROUND
Plumbing sales on upward trend
The Builders Merchants Federation’s latest Plumbing and Heating Merchants Index, shows sales through specialist plumbers and heating merchants continuing their upward trend in Q4 2021. Absolute sales increased by +6.4% against Q3 2021. Comparing like-for-like sales, adjusted for the difference in trading days between the two quarters, shows an increase of +13.5% in Q4. Year on year comparisons also show a slight upward trend, with sales in Q4 2021 up by +2.0% on Q4 2020, when there was no difference in trading days, and by +1.6% against Q4 2019, pre-Covid.
City Plumbing in logistics partnership
BMBI highlights slow up in sales figures
Figures for the final quarter of 2021 published in the BMF’s Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) found sales through UK builders’ merchants slowing slightly after two record quarters.
Total sales values in Q4 2021 were -12.7% lower than in Q3 2021, not helped by four less trading days in Q4. Like-for-like sales, adjusted for the difference in trading days, were down by -6.9%. Q4 2021 was still the BMBI’s the third best quarter on record, with sales values increasing by +14.7% against the same period in 2020, and also +21.0% higher than Q4 2019, pre-Covid.
All categories sold more in Q4 2021 in comparison to Q4 2020 with Timber & Joinery Products (+28.2%) leading the way, followed by Landscaping (+14.4%), which recorded its highest quarterly sales of 2021. Heavy Building Materials (+11.1%), Kitchens & Bathrooms (+10.0%) and Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+9.6) were among categories growing more slowly.
However, after a year
characterised by supply shortages and ending with soaring energy costs, resulting in substantial price increases, growth is largely driven by pricing rather than volume.
Pland Stainless reports growth
Despite the challenges caused by Covid-19 and Brexit, steel product manufacturer Pland Stainless has reported a 10% growth in sales during 2021.
City Plumbing, part of the Highbourne Group, is to outsource operations at its national distribution hub to GXO, the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider. Expected to come into effect
from June 2022, the strategic partnership with GXO Logistics will see GXO lead all warehousing and logistics operations at City Plumbing’s Warrington-based Omega site, its primary transport network and its international freight operations.
The new arrangements with GXO will mean enhanced delivery services and options across the full range of City Plumbing products and services.
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The business, which has been manufacturing stainless steel products mainly for the commercial market since 1919, has seen the largest growth on products from all sectors including healthcare, catering, secure accommodation, and education. Throughout 2021, Pland made multiple investments in
BMF expands in Ireland with Topline Group
The Builders Merchants Federation has signed a group membership agreement with Topline Group in Ireland. Topline Group represents 90 members with 146 outlets across the island of Ireland and
the business. It has purchased and trialled two robots for welding and polishing, designed to be used for repetitive tasks, particularly where vibration causes health and safety concerns for its polishers. The business has had a new guillotine machine installed, a new heavy lifting machine for stainless steel sheets, additional space heaters for the building and new racking for storage. Pland managed to finish 2021 without any price increases being passed to their customers.
an annual spend on building materials, plumbing, heating, timber and general hardware products in excess of €400 million. The total turnover of Topline members exceeds €0.5 billion.
The agreement, which comes into effect on April 1, will see 13 of Topline Group’s largest members join the BMF immediately, with a three-year development plan to further expand its BMF membership.
OBITUARY
John Tipper passed away on the 20th February 2022 after a short illness aged 78. John joined the family firm, Walter Tipper Ltd. in 1967 after gaining a degree in Civil Engineering and spending several years working with R.M. Douglas Construction Plc. After two years he was made a Director and saw the company expand from two branches to six, covering the West Midlands. He was primarily responsible for Procurement and Personnel. John was Chairman of the Education and Training Committee of the BMF and a Regional Chairman of the Institute of Builders Merchants. He also played a pivotal role in the Combined Buying Association, holding the position of Chairman of the Building Committee for many years, he was also a member of the Hardware Committee and the Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants. After 38 years in the Industry John retired in August 2005. During his lifetime John was a keen sportsman, he played cricket for the local cricket club, he was an enthusiastic supporter of rugby, having played at school, and in latter years he was an avid golfer. Among his many other interests was being a member of Lichfield Round Table and the Rotary Club. Donations in memory of John are being collected for RNLI and St Michaels Church c/o Jukes Funeral Services, House of Minster Funeral Home, 26 Tamworth Street, Lichfield WS13 6JJ. BMJ’s condolences go to Cynthia, James, Jo and the rest of the Tipper families.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net March 2022
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