SUPPLIER NEWS
AMES MAKES ITS MARK ON THE UK GARDEN MARKET
AMES CEO Simon Hupfeld
Since setting its sights on the UK and Ireland, US garden products manufacturer AMES has gone on to acquire chimenea and firepit supplier, La Hacienda and landscaping product manufacturer Kelkay to add to its existing True Temper business in Dublin. The Global company said it has identified the UK and Ireland as a “strategic development opportunity” and, since taking on Kelkay, the firm has bought wooden furniture and garden structures firm, Anchor Fast, which as a 34,000sq ft manufacturing
facility in Doncaster, located just 18 miles from Kelkay. The close proximity of the two businesses is expected to help support the integration plan and the intention is to distribute Kelkay and Anchor Fast products together, as soon as can be practically arranged. AMES CEO Simon Hupfeld said: “The market opportunity in the UK and Ireland has been a focus for us for some time and we wanted to make sure we made the right acquisitions to give us a strong platform for future growth. Kelkay and La Hacienda are both strong, successful businesses and, bringing them together under the global organisation of AMES, brings further opportunities.” The Global AMES Group, owned by US public company, Griffon Corporation, has a group turnover exceeding $550million and owns market leading brands in USA, Canada and Australasia. It operates in 10 distinct product categories, all focused on home garden
consumers, and manufacture its product in dedicated facilities in the USA, Canada, China and Australia. AMES plans to continue its expansion in the UK and Ireland with launches into new product categories where it already has global expertise and manufacturing strengths. The company also said it was not ruling out further acquisitions in the UK to help it reach its goals.
Its UK subsidiary, AMES UK is headed up by managing director Antony Harker. He has been tasked with driving the UK and Ireland strategy, which is designed to capitalise on the cooperative efforts of the local group businesses it has acquired and introduce opportunities from the buying strengths and category experience of the global AMES group. He commented “It’s a time of
great opportunity for the business, customers and our employees. The global strength of AMES, its significant buying power and its
product design and development experience will benefit the whole UK market. You can expect to see the first signs of this in the next few weeks as we reveal our plans for 2019.” AMES already operates globally in hand tools, garden tools, wheelbarrows, hoses and watering equipment, pots and containers; and, thanks to its new acquisitions, can now can add fire pits and outdoor heating, water features, paving, aggregates and wooden furniture and garden structures to the portfolio.
CEO Simon Hupfeld added:
“The AMES vision is to be the first and best choice – for our customers and our employees as well as suppliers, shareholders and the wider community. I really believe that our plans for the UK will bring further opportunity, especially for retail customers, who will benefit from access to our growing range of products as we expand into new categories.”
www.diyweek.net
24 AUGUST 2018 DIY WEEK 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
