More than 280 exhibitors at this year’s National Merchant Buying Society exhibition welcomed 558 independent merchant member companies and 1,084 visitors through the Coventry Building Society Arena doors on 19 and 20 April. Chris Hayward, chief executive officer at NMBS, said: “The 55th NMBS Exhibition was our most successful show yet, …
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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 …
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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 …
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KBB distributors 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 …
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Construction output is forecast to fall from a record-high level and contract by 6.4% in 2023 according to the CPA’s Spring Forecasts. This is a downgrade from a fall of 4.7% expected in the Winter, driven primarily by sharp falls in the two largest construction sectors – private new housing …
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The Government’s Plan for Water is misguided and could waste a huge amount of government money. That’s according to Unified Water Label Association managing director Yvonne Orgill. The comments were made following the launch of the plan by environment secretary Therese Coffey and water minister Rebecca Pow. Orgill said: “These …
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Toolstation colleague Fiona Staples will be participating in Macmillan Cancer Support’s Brave the Shave campaign to help raise money for people whose lives have been affected by cancer. Staples, who currently works in the Contact Centre at Toolstation’s Head Office in Bridgwater, will be shaving her head in front of …
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Grant & Stone has enabled a water pump to be installed in Manicaland in Zimbabwe,, which will provide much-needed clean and fresh drinking water for hundreds of people in the province. Grant & Stone installed AquAid watercoolers into its 44 locations. With each purchase of an AquAid watercooler, the company …
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Travis Perkins plc managed a resilient first quarter trading performance, despite challenging market conditions. Total sales were down 2.8%. Weak new build housing and domestic repair, maintenance and improvement markets especially impacted the Merchanting sector, although the commercial, industrial and public sector markets, accounting for just under half of the …
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The latest figures from the Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report show total value sales for February 2023 through specialist plumbing and heating merchants were +8.6% higher than February last year. Growth came exclusively from increasing prices (+9.6%) as volumes fell slightly (-0.9%) during the period. Month-on-month, February value …
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