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PROFESSIONAL
BUILDERS MERCHANT
Top 20 countdown — 2022: PBM magazine presents the annual listing of the UK’s largest merchant businesses, based on turnover calculations for the full calendar year of 2021.
In association with
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PROFESSIONAL
BUILDERS
PROFESSIONAL
BUILDERS MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS
MERCHANT
JANUARY 2021
Merchant sector sales & confidence
TRANSPORT, HANDLING & STORAGE Improving efficiencies
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY e-commerce and remote support
KITCHENS & BATHROOMS Design trends
Fantasy Football Taking shape!
Plus: News, training, recruitment, acquisitions, industry comment and more.
www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
TOP PRESENTS THE
20
PROFESSIONAL
BUILDERS MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS
MAY 2021
Merchant sector sales & confidence
TOOLS, FIXINGS & ADHESIVES Developments in sealants, screws and power tools
BRICKS, BLOCKS & HARD LANDSCAPING Innovation and efficiencies
PAINTS & WOODCARE Colour trends in an RMI renaissance
Plus: News, showroom solutions, training, acquisitions, industry comment and more.
Fantasy Football The home straight See page 59
www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
BUILDERS’ MERCHANTS CHART FOR 2022 (based on full calendar year turnover for 2021)
In association with
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PROFESSIONAL
PROFESSIONAL
PROFESSIONAL
BUILDERS
BUILDERS
BUILDERS
MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS
FEBRUARY 2021
MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS
MARCH 2021
MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS
APRIL 2021
TOP 20 MERCHANT CHART
REPAIR, MAINTENANCE & IMPROVEMENT
Benchmarking the sector’s largest businesses
Timber frame home extension kits
Merchant sector sales & confidence
Merchant sector sales & confidence
Innovation and investment
TOOLS, FIXINGS & ADHESIVES Advances in power tools and accessories
Plus: News, supply chain issues, training, acquisitions, industry comment and more.
GARDENS & LANDSCAPING
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Merchant sector sales & confidence BRICKS, BLOCKS & HARD LANDSCAPING
Fantasy Football All up for grabs! See page 51
www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
Delivering with data
Outdoor living continues apace
DOORS, WINDOWS & SECURITY
DRAINAGE & WATER MANAGEMENT
Smarter solutions
WORKWEAR & EQUIPMENT Safety and sustainability
Plus: News, supply chain issues, training, acquisitions, industry comment and more.
Fantasy Football Tight at the top See page 51
www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
Digging deep
PLUMBING & HEATING New product innovation
Fantasy Football Running away with it?
See page 51
Plus: News, supply chain issues, training, acquisitions, industry comment and more.
www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
PROFESSIONAL
PROFESSIONAL
PROFESSIONAL
BUILDERS
BUILDERS
BUILDERS
MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS
JUNE 2021
MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS
JULY/AUGUST 2021
MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS
SEPTEMBER 2021
Merchant sector sales & confidence
Merchant sector sales & confidence
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The drive for data
TIMBER & JOINERY
GARDENS & LANDSCAPING
Reputation, value & sales
It pays to display
ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION Levelling up agenda
PLASTER, DRY LINING & BUILDING BOARDS Indoor air quality
Plus: News, mental health support, training, acquisitions, industry comment and more.
Fantasy Football European dreams See page 59
www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
PLUMBING & HEATING The future for low carbon heating
TRANSPORT, HANDLING & STORAGE On the road again
Fantasy Football We go again! See page 67
Plus: News, selling electrical, training, acquisitions, industry comment and more.
BRICKS, BLOCKS & HARD LANDSCAPING The path to sustainability
TOOLS, FIXINGS & ADHESIVES Power tool innovation
Fantasy Football Back of the net! See page 67
Plus: News, driver shortages, the return of live events, acquisitions, industry comment and more.
www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
PROFESSIONAL
PROFESSIONAL
PROFESSIONAL
BUILDERS
BUILDERS
BUILDERS
MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS
OCTOBER 2021
MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS
Merchant sector sales & confidence
NOVEMBER 2021
MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS
DECEMBER 2021
Merchant sector sales & confidence
Merchant sector sales & confidence
KITCHENS & BATHROOMS Design trends and ‘hybrid selling’
MERCHANT FOCUS
TIMBER & JOINERY
IBMG expands with Grant & Stone acquisition
Sustainability and supply chain issues
DOORS, WINDOWS & SECURITY
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Roof windows, hardware and smart security solutions
DRAINAGE & WATER MANAGEMENT Focus on sustainability
Plus: News, driver shortages, the road to net zero, acquisitions, industry comment and more.
Fantasy Football That’s numberwang! See page 67
www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
The importance of digital integration
TOOLS, FIXINGS & ADHESIVES Specialist tools for the mass market
Plus: News, BMF Conference Preview, professional development, industry comment and more.
Fantasy Football Squad game See page 51
www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
PLUMBING & HEATING Industry reactions to the Heat and Buildings strategy
BMF CONFERENCE 2021 Key takeaways from the ‘All Industry’ event
Plus: News, market analysis, professional development, industry comment and more.
Fantasy Football See page 51
www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
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TRAVIS PERKINS PLC
60% H 40% L
SAINT-GOBAIN BUILDING DISTRIBUTION UK
NB: Numbers for continuing operations only (ie: excluding Wickes and the former P&H division, sold in 2021)
WOLSELEY UK Heavyside/ lightside split unavailable
78% H 22% L
HIGHBOURNE GROUP
GRAFTON UK DISTRIBUTION
100% L
Heavyside/ lightside split unavailable
NB: The estimate used here is for continuing operations following the sale of Graham on 31.7.21
NB: Numbers exclude the GB ‘traditional merchanting business’, divested on 31.12.21
Key Brands Travis Perkins Keyline
Key Brands
BSS
Jewson
Toolstation
Gibbs & Dandy
Key Brands Wolseley Plumb & Parts
JP Corry
William Wilson Burdens
Key Brands
Key Brands
City Plumbing
Selco
PTS
Leyland SDM MacBlair TG Lynes
£4.59bn
£2bn e
£1.763bn
£1,000m e
£821.9m
1,390 branches
c750
542 branches
356 branches
123 branches
2020 £1,069 352 branches
2020 £630.9m 111 branches
branches
(Figures show year end 31/7/2021)
2020 £3.7bn 1,306 branches
2020 £2.25bn c1,000 branches
■
■
Previous year £1.489bn 542 branches
■
■
■
1
2
3
4
5
CEO: Nick Roberts
CE0: Mike Newnham
CEO: Simon Oakland
CE0: Dave Evans
CE0: Gavin Slark
www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk
www.saint-gobain.co.uk
www.wolseley.co.uk
www.cityplumbing.co.uk
www.graftonplc.com
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Kerridge Commercial Systems provides specialist ERP, Business Management Software, Services and Support to Merchants, Distributors, Wholesalers and Retailers. Our fully integrated cloud-based software includes modules that support improved stock control, warehouse management, sales order processing, accounting, delivery management and much more.
MKM
80% H 20% L
For more information please contact:
Tel: 01488 662000 Email: hello@kerridgecs.com Web: www.kerridgecs.com
UK PLUMBING SUPPLIES
100% L NB: The estimated figure includes the purchase of a majority of Graham from Saint-Gobain, completed on 31.7.21
INDEPENDENT BUILDERS MERCHANT GROUP
Key Brands
77% H 23% L
Graham Plumbase HPS Plumbstop Plumbcity Willbond
Key Brands Grant & Stone Parkers
HUWS GRAY
80% H 20% L NB: Figs do NOT include the approx. £520m + c. 200 branches for the purchase of Grafton’s ‘GB merchanting business’, completed 31.12.21. The combined turnover would place Huws Gray in 4th
Key Brands
RGB
Huws Gray Ridgeons Buildbase PDM Buildbase Civils & Lintels
Chandlers
LORDS GROUP TRADING
35% H 65% L
Key Brands Hevey BS George Lines APP Wholesale
£700m
£570m e
£532m
£496m
£365m
93 branches
c340
137 branches
118 branches
34 branches
2020 £495m 79 branches
■■■
branches 2020 c£450m c260
branches
■■
(+28 showrooms)
2020 £433m 134 branches
■■■
UK Plumbing Supplies
6
7
2020 £373m 105 branches
■■
■■■
HUWS
8
2020 £287m 29 branches
GRAY
9 10
Directors: David Kilburn, Kate Tinsley, Neil Croxson
Directors: Angus Falconer, Douglas Christie, Steve Wimbledon
CEO: Nick House Group MD: Peter Cudd Chair: David Moore
CEO: Ian Northen Chair: Terry Owen
www.mkmbs.co.uk
N/A
www.independentbm.com
www.huwsgray.co.uk
CEO: Shanker Patel CFO: Chris Day www.lordsgrouptrading.co.uk
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2021 declared / estimated turnover
KEY
UK merchant operation numbers only, where possible. If full 2021 calendar year figures were not available, the most recent information has been used, as noted. ESTIMATED HEAVYSIDE / LIGHTSIDE SPLIT IS INDICATED WHERE POSSIBLE. HEAVYSIDE FIGURES INCLUDE TIMBER (WHERE APPLICABLE) LIGHTSIDE FIGURES INCLUDE SHOWROOMS, TOOLS, HIRE SERVICES AND ELECTRICAL (WHERE APPLICABLE)
e = PBM estimate on turnover / branches Source: Figures are compiled via information supplied by a merchant company, latest published account data and PBM estimates. Every effort is made to ensure the data presented is accurate but PBM cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions.
INDUSTRY AFFILIATIONS BMF ■ NMBS ■ PHG ■ NBG ■ FORTIS ■ H+B ■ Note: not to scale
Published in PBM magazine April 2022
NATIONAL TIMBER GROUP Heavyside/ lightside split unavailable
BRADFORDS
80% H 20% L
Key Brands
Key Brands
Arnold Laver
Bradfords Building Supplies
NYT Rembrand Thornbridge
YPS Plumbing Supplies
HALDANE GROUP Heavyside/ lightside split unavailable
LAWSONS
99% H 1% L
Key Brands
Key Brands
Haldane Fisher
Lawsons
Plumbmaster GE Robinson
AVS Fencing Supplies
EH SMITH
99% H 1% L
Orchard Timber
£300m e
£204m
£181m
£180m
£155.9m
c60
branches
45 branches
21 branches
31 branches
12 branches
2020 approx £208m 56 branches
2020 £156m 46 branches
2020 £132m 20 branches
2020 £129.1m 29 branches
2020 £121.1m 10 branches
■■
■■■
■ ■ ■ ■■
■■■
■■■■■
11 12 13 14 15 Group CEO: Rob Barclay www.nationaltimbergroup.com
Group CEO: David Young www.bradfords.co.uk
Directors: Ian Haldane David Haldane Neal Boomer
Joint MDs: Paul Rushent, Jeremy Norris Chair: Simon Lawson
MD: Mark Setchell Chair: John Parker
www.haldane-group.com
www.lawsons.co.uk
www.ehsmith.co.uk
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PROFESSIONAL
BUILDERS MERCHANT Top 20 merchants — 2022: The UK’s largest merchant businesses, based on turnover data for the 2021 calendar year
HOWARTH TIMBER & BUILDING SUPPLIES
JT ATKINSON
WILLIAMS & CO
75% H 25% L
100% L
£139m
£124.5m
34 branches 2020 £107m 33 branches
SYDENHAMS
100% L
69% H 31% L
£119m
£112.3m
£104m
35 branches
43 branches
67 branches
32 branches
2020 £98.9m 30 branches
2020 £93.7m 39 branches
2020 £89.4m 65 branches
2020 £79.65m 30 branches
Heavyside/ lightside split unavailable
■■■
JAMES HARGREAVES
■■■
■■
■■■
■■■
16 17 18 19 20 Joint MDs: Nicholas Howarth Andrew Howarth
MD: Jamie Atkinson Chair: Edwin Atkinson
CEO / MD: Ray Stafford
MD: Gordon Rothwell
MD: Lee Wright Joint Chairs: Charles & James Sherborne
www.howarth-timber.co.uk
www.jtatkinson.co.uk
www.tradeonlyplumbing.co.uk
www.jameshargreaves.com
www.sydenhams.co.uk
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2022 Top 20: PBM outlines the details behind the performance of the UK merchant sector’s largest businesses during 2021. A dramatic recovery from the worst ravages of the pandemic is starkly highlighted by the universal increase in turnover (and profit margins) presented by the sector’s largest merchant firms, as sustained customer demand kept the tills ringing despite the ongoing challenges of Covid, supply chain issues and material price rises. However, perhaps the biggest headline news remains the seismic shake-up caused by an array of mergers and acquisitions over the last twelve months. Indeed, the ‘realignment’ of the market has continued in the early months of 2022 (and therefore outside of our reporting period) with the confirmation, for example, of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution UK’s sale of its remaining specialist plumbing & heating businesses Neville Lumb, DHS, Bassetts and Ideal Bathrooms to Wolseley UK. Looking back to the 2021 performances of our market leaders, Travis Perkins plc continues to lead the way. Indicative of the changes hinted at above, the business confirmed the demerger of Wickes in April and completed the sale of its Plumbing & Heating business to the Highbourne Group in May. As its new, strategic direction takes hold, the Group reported like-for-like revenue growth of 25.4% (14.4% ahead of 2019 for continuing operations) driven by an “enhanced customer proposition and robust recovery in key market segments.” Once again, the figures we share include those for Toolstation.
Saint-Gobain Building Distribution UK maintains second place, with the business fully focused on its builders’ merchant brands such as Jewson and Gibbs & Dandy moving forward. In third, Wolseley UK’s sale from Ferguson plc to private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice was completed in January 2021. In addition to the business listed previously, the company also acquired around 30 Graham branches from SGBD, with the transaction completed in September. Our first ‘new entry’ is the aforementioned Highbourne Group, now home of the former TP P&H brands such as City Plumbing. Four new branches were opened in 2021, along with the rebranding of five PTS depots. Big plans are said to be in place for 2022, with 25 new sites set to be opened. It was a “transformational year” for the Grafton Group, with the fifth-placed business presenting figures for its continuing operations following the sale of its ‘Traditional Merchanting’ business in Great Britain to Huws Gray. Three new Selco depots opened last year, taking the total to 72 and maintaining progress towards a stated target of 100 by 2026. Similarly, MKM continued its successful strategy for growth, with a host of new sites opened in 2021 and plans in place for an additional 15-20 locations in 2022. Around 73 Graham branches along with its ecommerce site were sold to UK Plumbing Supplies last year, but where do we even start to summarise the
activity at the Independent Builders Merchants Group? CRS, Build it, Total Plumbing Supplies, RGB and Devondale Electrical were added in early 2021 whilst during the summer, Grant & Stone merged with Parkers, Chandlers, Fairalls and Stamco to create an enlarged IBMG “spanning Kent to Cornwall”. Three more businesses were acquired in October. Appearing in 9th place this year, Huws Gray will certainly be much higher up the rankings in 12 months following the purchase of Buildbase, PDM Buildbase in Scotland and Civils & Lintels et al from Grafton. The c. £520m transaction completed on 31st December and effectively doubles Huws Gray in size — and a combined turnover in excess of £1bn would have secured 4th spot this time around… Completing our ‘Top 10’, Lords Group Trading “remains committed to sustainable growth through a combination of organic and acquisitive growth”. In July, the business completed a successful and oversubscribed IPO for admission to the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. We are extremely grateful for the support of the sector in compiling this industry barometer. More details on each of our submissions for the full ‘Top 20’ (and those who narrowly missed the cut…) will be available on our website: www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk
K8: The strong digital platform for your future Wherever you are on your digital journey, growing the profits of your business can be made easier with the right platform to keep your company moving. Easily integrate and manage your business processes with a digital platform designed for your organisation both now and for years to come. The latest version of K8 has all the tools you need to deliver your digital strategy, and whether it’s opening up new routes to market with online B2B and B2C trading, or streamlining core processes through the use of innovative apps, we’re here to help your business thrive and compete better in the connected world. Go digital now, and grow profits for the future with Kerridge Commercial Systems. For more information, call 01488 662000, email hello@kerridgecs.com or visit www.kerridgecs.com
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