NEWSROUND NEWS IN BRIEF
PJH invests PJH has acquired a new purpose- built distribution centre in Wolverhampton, intending to relocate the entire current Cannock operation. Located just 8.3 miles from the existing site, the new Wolverhampton Distribution Centre will be purpose built to PJH’s specification. With a sq. ft. of 200,000, the new site is almost double the existing footprint and will support planned product range enhancements, an increase in the already excellent stock availability and further improvements to PJH’s next-day delivery service. In addition, the site will also include a new purpose-built showroom designed to showcase all products to customers.
Four more champions Four BMF members are amongst the latest cohort of companies to become Zero Carbon Business Champions within the Construction Leadership Council’s CO2nstruct Zero programme. Cemex, Harlow Timber Group, Robert Price and Saint Gobain Interior Solutions, join 27 other BMF members as Business Champions, part of a total group of over 90 construction industry companies now working within the CLC programme. CO2nstructZero facilitates collaboration between construction companies that are demonstrating initiative in relation to carbon reduction.
Howdens expands Trade kitchen supplier Howdens has opened the doors to its 800th UK depot in the town of Rowley Regis, West Midlands. The opening comes after Howdens recently expanded operations into the Republic of Ireland, opening five depots last year, as well as continued operations in France where the company has 60 depots.
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Marginal value growth in year-on-year merchant sales in February
The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveals that builders’ merchants’ value sales were up +0.8% in February compared to the same month in 2022. This growth
was driven exclusively by price inflation (+14.9%) as volume sales fell -12.2%. There was no difference in trading days. Nine of the twelve categories sold more in February 2023 compared to February 2022. Renewables & Water Saving (+58.9%) was again the strongest performing category, while Decorating (+15.0%), Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+13.3%), Workwear & Safetywear (+10.1%) and Ironmongery (+8.5%) also increased. Timber & Joinery Products (-13.9%), Landscaping (-12.5%) and Services (-2.1%) all sold less. Month-on-month, total merchant sales were +8.2% higher in February 2023 than the previous month. Volume sales were +13.4% higher than January, while prices were down -4.6%. With one less trading day in February, like-for-like sales were up +13.6%. Month-on- month the strongest category was Landscaping (+27.6%), followed by Heavy Building Materials (+10.9%). Workwear and Safetywear (-6.5%).
UFEMAT focuses on sustainability in Dublin
Sustainability and the reduction of packaging waste was high on the agenda of UFEMAT’s 63rd European Building Materials Conference, attended by over 100 builders’ merchants, building materials manufacturers delegates representing from 12 different countries. This year’s Conference took the theme “A
Vision for Success” and John Newcomb, the current UFEMAT President and CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation, outlined the new vision, mission and values. The business programme covered sustainable packaging, reducing waste, safety at work and vocational training, the benefits of adopting ETIM as the standard data model for transactions across the construction supply chain and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Sustainable packaging was the subject of this
year’s UFEMAT Best Practice Award, won by brick manufacturer, Vandersanden, from a shortlist that included Knauf Insulation, Velux and The Pallet Loop.
Cartmore invests further in Lochgelly
Cartmore Building Supplies have installed a Fibo mobile F1200 concrete batching plant for their premises at Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland, due to be commissioned in July of this year allowing customers to collect smaller quantities of concrete, mortar and screeds.
Cartmore will also be able to deliver these products for customers via a tub delivery system which in itself will result in cleaner sites with no mixing, no washdown of mixers or residual mess or waste.
This will be the first such plant and agreement with Fibo in Scotland and one of the first in the whole UK.
Selco opens in Peterborough
Selco Builders Warehouse has opened a new branch in Peterborough. The Padholme Road East site
takes its total number of UK branches to 75. Howard Luft, Selco’s chief executive, said: “This is our first branch in Cambridgeshire and the third we have opened across the UK in the last 12 months. As a genuine multi-channel builders merchant, we want to give tradespeople the chance to get their building materials in the most convenient way possible to them, whether that be through branches or through our fast-growing digital offering.” The official launch of the Peterborough branch saw Selco continue its commitment to supporting the local communities in which it operates by donating £3,000 to good causes.
Little Miracles - which supports children and young adults with additional needs, disabilities and life-limiting conditions - was selected as the Selco Community Heroes winner and will receive £1,000. It will use the money to help take a group of 800 children, parents and carers to Legoland during the May half-term holiday.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net May 2023
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