SUPPLIER NEWS SUPPLIER N


BIRKDALE INVESTS FOR THE FUTURE


B


joined the 20


years’ business


irkdale Sales – UK wholesale supplier of gate and fencing accessories – is embarking a major


on new


investment pr ogramme in its brand, products, premises and people. Managing director John Abernethie said: “2017 was a challenging year in terms of logistics for Birkdale. However, with the benefits of the investments now in place, Birkdale is able to offer industry-leading products and service once again.”


r, wi


Integral to Birkdale’s plans is the appointment of a new commercial director, David Ber,, David Beattie, who has business with over experience


in supply


chain management. David brings with him a strong reputation in transformation, having on and Wolseley


worked with Jewson and W Wo for many leadership capacity


years in a senior capacity. His new r ole


y.


encompasses the entire end-to-end logistics process, from product development, to procurement, warehousing and delivery.


The new distribution centre has already proven to be a big step forward for Birkdale, enabling it to triple


capacity and centralise


operations. The new centre has enabled the business to invest over £1 million in additional stock which is currently running at 99.1% stock availability, the highest levely,, the highest lev the business has achieved since its foundation over 20 years ago.


ock availability Changing focus


In addition, Birkdale, which was established in the mid 1980s as a fencing contractor, has beenr,, has be investing heavily in product development with the introduction of over 350 new products this year in its 2018/19 catalogue.


fencing contractor


Newly-appointed David Beattie added: “As part of the investment programme, the business took a long, hard look at what it was supplying to the market and the decision was


taken to focus on our cor e purpose. The business was established to make the lives of those working in the fencing industry easier As ar.. result of an extensive review of our product ranges, we have launched a host of new products, such as our Sitemate tools and fixings range, specifically designed and sourced for the fencing industry. This has beeny.. Thi backed up with heavy investment in patents and registered designs to protect our intellectual property Managing director John Abernethie continued: “Our core customer is the merchantn or t he lar ger fencing contractor who has an overwhelming need for certainty in the supply chain and consistency in the product; and those businesses and individuals are at the heart of our thinking. The investments we are making today are delivering real innovation to create products that make fencing contractors’ lives easier


easier y..” r..” N


SUPPLIER NEWS


www.diyweek.net


11 MAY 2018 DIY WEEK 7


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