Instantor has invested in new warehousing in Doncaster for its Instantor and Tucson Pumps brands.


James Donaldson Timber has taken on a new, 110,000ft2 manufacturing facility in Chorley.


Brewers buys Paintwell branches out of administration


Paintwell, the decorators’ merchant that acquired Kent Blaxill in November 2022, has been bought out of administration by the family- owned decorators merchant chain Brewers Group.


The company had been owned


by private equity firm Cairngorm Capital, which also owns builders merchant group IBMG, and National Timber Group. The deal with Brewers includes


most of the 44 stores, as well as the industrial paint distributor, Promain.


The most recent accounts filed by Paintwell Topco at


Companies House, were for the year to December 31, 2022, when turnover was £24.9m, with a total loss for the year of £2.97m, against a pre-tax profit of £271,335 in 2021. At the time of preparing the accounts for 2022 the directors said they had a reasonable expectation that the group had adequate resources to continue in operational existence “for the foreseeable future”.


Sinkhole opens up outside Fairalls’ yard


An enormous sinkhole has appeared in Godstone High Street, Surrey, just outside a branch of IBMG merchant Fairalls,and could take a year to be repaired.


The sinkhole was reported on Monday 17th February, and around 30 households in the immediate vicinity were evacuated. As yet, there is no indication when they might be able to return.


Toby Constable, managing director of IBMG SE Merchanting,


says that the number of collections from the branch were down by around 75% in the first week, although things are returning to normal slowly. “They put gates at both ends


Blanchford Building Supplies in adminstration after 87 years


Blanchford Building Supplies, the independent builders’ merchant based in Oxfordshire, went into administration on February 17. The administrators are Danny Dartnaill and Timothy Townley of BDO LLP in Reading, Berkshire.


The company had been a member of the National Buying Group (NBG) since 2000 and employed around 80 staff. Blanchford’s last available financial report for the year ending December 31, 2023, showed a turnover of nearly


£15.4 million but an operating loss of almost £700,000, compared with a £71,510 loss in 2022. The company attributed a 4.6% drop in turnover to intense competition from national and local rivals. Despite having approximately £5 million in assets, it also carried £2 million in debts. Following the closure, the website and Facebook pages were taken down. Many in the local community expressed their disappointment via social media.


March 2025 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


of the High Street and that meant we couldn’t get HGVs in or out,” he told BMJ.


Luckily the company has a second Godstone branch, at Taylors Hill, which could be used for deliveries and collections. Constable said that he is full of praise for the branch staff, operating under very difficult circumstances. “They’ve all really stepped up to the challenge, particularly branch manager Mike Grange, who has been a model of calm under pressure.”


Harrison appointed as NBG Chair


National Buying Group has


appointed Stephen Harrison, formerly CEO of Forterra plc, as its new Non- Executive Chair, succeeding David Szymanski, who retired at the end of last year.


Harrison has over 22 years’ experience in the building products sector, having led Forterra from 2012. In 2021, he was a keynote speaker at NBG’s Supplier Summit, talking Forterra’s commitment to the sustainable agenda, something he is passionate about.


Roofing product supplier Cromar Building Products has been acquired by the listed Swiss company Sika AG.


NEWS IN BRIEF


HAC Pipeline Supplies shuts up


East Midlands plumbers merchant HAC Pipeline Supplies Jobs has appointed administrators. The company, which had traded for 40 years from its premises in Leicester, has now closed. Christopher Lewis and Tyrone Courtman of RSM UK Restructuring Advisory LLP were appointed joint administrators on 21 February 2025.


The decision was taken by the company directors following cashflow challenges and increasing pressure from creditors.


IBC Buying Group in md shake-up


Independent builders merchant buying group IBC has had a change of leadership, with CEO Vick Patel stepping in as managing director for the foreseeable future, following the departure of md Stuart Stockley by mutual consent. In a letter to the membership, Patel said: “I want to take this opportunity to express my enthusiasm for leading this incredible organisation and working alongside such a talented team.”


Northern Building Plastics opens in south Northern Building Plastics has opened its fifth “super depot”, in Hemel Hempstead, the first time it has established a presence in the south. The company’s other depots are Bolton, Leeds, Birtley and Hinckley “super depots”. The new 25,000ft2 facility, situated just off Junction 8 of the M1, has the capacity to hold a vast range of product lines including fascia, soffit, guttering, drainage and cladding. It will also operate a fleet of up to 20 vehicles


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