NEWSROUND Merkko rebrands
Haldane Group to invest £50m in next five years
Builders merchant group Haldane Group is to invest over £50 million across the business over the next five years.
Following its merger with Grant & Stone, Merkko Builders Merchants is relaunching as Grant & Stone Merkko Civils & Building. Phil Lynch, regional manager at Merkko and Grant & Stone Builders Merchants, said: “The merger between Grant & Stone and Merkko Builders Merchants brought together two companies that have a shared ethos of providing quality materials and excellent service. Customers gained access to increased technical and product expertise, as well as the opportunity to benefit from an enhanced range of materials.
“The rebranding to Grant & Stone Merkko Civils & Building has reinforced the partnership, and we look forward to welcoming new and current customers through the doors to celebrate with us.”
Some £17.5m will be spent on organic development, with £30m allocated to enhance acquisition and green field development. David Haldane has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive of Haldane Group. He will be supported by Brian McAuley as managing director of Haldane Fisher Northern Ireland, Simon Walling who will lead the Haldane Fisher brand in England and the Isle of Man, as well as GE Robinson, and Phil Lomas as managing director of the newly acquired specialist timber business, Prowood Ltd.
Haldane said: “This is a hugely exciting time for the Haldane Group as we unveil ambitious investment plans that will support our long-term vision and enhance company growth and development over the coming number of
years.Investing over £50 million in our people and across the wider organisation will allow Haldane Group to maintain our position as the partner of choice across a wide network
of clients and
suppliers, in addition to identifying new opportunities within the markets we serve.”
Haldane Group incorporates Haldane Fisher NI, Haldane Fisher - Isle of Man, Haldane Fisher -
UK, GE Robinson, Plumbmaster, Prowood, Bathline and Key Hardware.
The company serves both trade and the general public, with 21 branches across Northern Ireland, England, and Isle of Man supplying 13,000 products across 800 brands.
The planned investment will be financed via the group’s own cash generation along with ongoing support from banking partner, Danske Bank.
Haldane continued: “Our vision for the future of our business is focused on ‘Building Together’ and ensuring that our colleagues are equipped with the resources, skills and training necessary to meet the evolving needs of customers and markets we serve.”
Higher prices drive P&H sales upward trend
The value of sales through specialist plumbing and heating merchants rose in the final quarter of 2022, according to figures released by the Builders Merchants Federation in its latest Plumbing and Heating Merchants Index. This waslargely driven by higher prices rather than increased volumes. Despite their being five fewer trading days in the final quarter of the year, in value terms absolute sales in Q4 2022 were +6.9% higher than in the third quarter of the year. Volume sales were lower at -2.6%, but prices increased by +9.7%. Comparing like-for-like sales, adjusted for the difference in trading days between the two quarters, shows an increase of +15.9% in value sales in Q4. Value sales in Q4 2022 were up by +10.3% over
6
Ian Haldane, David Haldane, Brian McAuley, Simon Walling
OBITUARY Peter Bradford
It is with sadness that Bradfords Group has
announced the death of Peter Stanley Bradford, widely known affectionately as Mr Peter, on 13th January 2023.
Q3 2021. Volume sales were 0.7% lower, while price was up by +11.0%. Sales from January to December 2022 rose by +8.2% over the previous year. Once again this was driven by price, up by +9.3% with volume sales -1.0% lower.
Peter was a war baby, born in August 1941 to Philip and Peggie, the youngest of his family with two older sisters, Gay and June. He first worked at Ellis and Everard in Leicester, then Miller and Lilley, a Bradfords’ subsidiary, in their Sidmouth branch, before moving to Bradford’s Sherborne branch in 1964. Mr Peter had a long and successful career at Bradfords, initiating the separation of the company into three businesses: building supplies, coal and agriculture. He introduced light side products to widen the customer base and under his stewardship the company grew from 16 to 28 locations and turnover trebled. Still a family business, he retired as executive chairman in 2006 after 42 years’ service, having been recognised with a lifetime achievement award from the BMF.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net March 2023
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