News

Builders merchanting and DIY group Grafton made a pre-tax profit of £101.2 million last year with its UK merchanting division performing strongly due to improving market conditions.

Independent builders merchant Sydenhams has acquired Abingdon builders merchant F Knight & Sons.

Mark Larden has been appointed managing director of Geberit and Twyford in the UK and Ireland, following the acquisition of Twyford parent group Sanitec by Geberit.

Independent timber and builders merchant Ridgeons presented Meyer Timber its Supplier of the Year award for the second year running at its annual 'Meet the Merchant' event held in Cambridgeshire last month.

Essex landscapers Woods Paving won the ultimate prize at this year's Brett Landscaping and Building Products annual Approved Installer Awards, which celebrates the achievements of paving contractors who are members of the company's Brett Approved Installer (BAI) scheme.

Builders and plumbers merchant group Travis Perkins plc saw its revenue increase by 8.4% in 2014, with only its plumbing and heating division reporting a drop in sales.

Plumbers merchant group Wolseley plc has purchased a substantial shareholding in B2C online bathroom retailer BathEmpire.com, with an option to acquire the remaining equity stake at a future date.

The UK's largest independent builders merchant, MKM Building Supplies, reported a 31% increase in sales for the 12 months to September 30, 2014, compared with the same period in the previous year, significantly outperforming the industry.

Up to £70 million worth of funding will be made available through the third release of the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) from midday Monday 16th March, the government has announced.

Six staff members at South-East based timber merchant Champion Timber have completed the Level 3 Leadership & Management certificate from the ILM (Institute of Leadership & Management) as part of the company's on-going training and development programme for its 195 strong workforce.