Top 20 Builders' Merchants Chart - PBM April 2021

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PROFESSIONAL

BUILDERS MERCHANT 2021 Top 20: PBM magazine presents the annual listing of the UK’s largest merchant businesses, based on turnover calculations for the full calendar year of 2020.

In association with

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PROFESSIONAL

BUILDERS MERCHANT

PROFESSIONAL

BUILDERS MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

JANUARY 2020

TRANSPORT, HANDLING & SECURITY Safety and sustainability

MONTHLY TRENDS MONITOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Ecommerce and increased efficiency

KITCHENS & BATHROOMS Trends and opportunities

Plus: News, NBG Conference, training, merchandising & display solutions and more.

Fantasy Football Window on the world

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

TOP PRESENTS THE

20

PROFESSIONAL

BUILDERS MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

MAY 2020

CORONAVIRUS How the sector has responded to the crisis

BRICKS, BLOCKS & HARD LANDSCAPING Pushing the pause button

PAINTS & WOODCARE Premium coatings

TOOLS, FIXINGS & ADHESIVES New product launches

Plus: News, The Pulse trends monitor, training, merchandising & display solutions and more.

Fantasy Football Sporting shutdown See page 51

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

BUILDERS’ MERCHANTS CHART FOR 2021 (based on full calendar year turnover for 2020)

In association with

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PROFESSIONAL

PROFESSIONAL

PROFESSIONAL

BUILDERS

BUILDERS

BUILDERS

MERCHANT

JANUARY 2020

THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

FEBRUARY 2020

MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

MARCH 2020

MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

MONTHLY TRENDS MONITOR

APRIL 2020

MONTHLY TRENDS MONITOR

TOP 20 MERCHANT CHART Benchmarking the sector’s biggest businesses

MONTHLY TRENDS MONITOR

WORKWEAR & EQUIPMENT Upselling opportunities

TOOLS, FIXINGS & ADHESIVES

PLUMBING & HEATING Looking beyond gas heating

The clamour for cordless

BRICKS, BLOCKS & HARD LANDSCAPING

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

GARDENS & L ANDSCAPING

A new take on familiar favourites

Trade counter efficiencies

Maximising outdoor sales

REPAIR, MAINTENANCE & IMPROVEMENT

DOORS, WINDOWS & SECURITY

Innovation and efficiencies

Capitalising on a growing market

Fantasy Football

Plus: News, The Pulse trends monitor, training, merchandising & display solutions, and more.

See page 51

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

See page 51

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

Weathering the storm

Fantasy Football

Plus: News, digital data standards, training, merchandising & display solutions and more.

What happens now?

See page 75

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

PROFESSIONAL

PROFESSIONAL

PROFESSIONAL

BUILDERS

BUILDERS

BUILDERS

MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

MAY 2020

DRAINAGE & WATER MANAGEMENT Fantasy Football

Plus: News, MKM opens its 70th branch, training, merchandising & display solutions and more.

JUNE 2020

MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

JULY/AUGUST 2020

MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

SEPTEMBER 2020

BRICKS, BLOCKS & MASONRY

The pathway to recovery

Brick slips in demand

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Embracing e-commerce

CONFIDENCE IN A CRISIS

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

GARDENS & LANDSCAPING

THE PULSE

Implementing the new normal

Opportunities in the great outdoors

Trade counter feedback

THE PULSE

Fantasy Football

Feedback from the merchant frontline

Plus: News, digital growth, debt recovery, training, industry comment and more.

Get ready for the big re-start See page 51

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

TOOLS, FIXINGS & ADHESIVES

TRANSPORT, HANDLING & STORAGE Safety and efficiency

Plus: News, digital growth, Covid-secure branches, training, industry comment and more

Fantasy Football And we’re back!

See page 51

Timber cutting machines for merchants

Fantasy Football

Plus: News, Huws Gray’s 30th anniversary, apprenticeships, industry comment and more.

Season’s greetings!

See page 51

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

PROFESSIONAL

PROFESSIONAL

PROFESSIONAL

BUILDERS

BUILDERS

BUILDERS

MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

OCTOBER 2020

MERCHANT THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

DRAINAGE & WATER MANAGEMENT SuDS and flood prevention

Plus: News, customer feedback, apprenticeships, industry comment and more.

Fantasy Football A new beginning See page 51

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

DECEMBER 2020

BUSINESS ESSENTIALS Gearing up for Brexit

Change and transformation

Showroom solutions for the new normal

Opening up new sales

THE No.1 BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MERCHANTS

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

KITCHENS & BATHROOMS DOORS, WINDOWS & SECURITY

MERCHANT

MERCHANT SECTOR SALES & CONFIDENCE

CHECKING THE INDUSTRY HEARTBEAT

th

NOVEMBER 2020

ROOFING, FLOORING & INSULATION Gearing up for the Green Homes Grant

TOOLS, FIXINGS & ADHESIVES New product innovations

Plus: News, BMF Members’ Annual Conference, acquisitions, industry comment and more.

MERCHANT SECTOR SALES & CONFIDENCE

Fantasy Football All to play for!

See page 51

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

PLUMBING & HEATING The impact of decarbonisation

TIMBER Supply and demand

Plus: News, training, e-commerce, acquisitions, industry comment and more.

Fantasy Football Taking shape!

See page 51

www.professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk

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TRAVIS PERKINS PLC (exc. Wickes)

64% H 36% L

SAINT-GOBAIN BUILDING DISTRIBUTION UK

40% H 60% L

WOLSELEY UK

20% H 80% L

GRAFTON UK MERCHANTING Heavyside/ lightside split unavailable

MKM

79% H 21% L Key Brands Travis Perkins

Key Brands

Key Brands Buildbase

Jewson

Wolseley Plumb & Parts

Toolstation

Graham

William Wilson

MacBlair

Keyline

Gibbs & Dandy

Burdens

Leyland SDS

CCF

JP Corry

MPS

PDM Buildbase

£4.77bn

£2.82bn

£1.49bn

£1.46bn

£495m

1,283 branches

978 branches

542 branches

324 branches

79 branches

2019 £1.71bn 343 branches

2019 £470m 69 branches

City Plumbing Supplies

Key Brands

PTS

Selco

(Figures show year end 31/7/2020)

2019 £5.6bn 1,425 branches

Previous year £2.74bn c1,000 branches

■

■

Previous year £1.725bn 551 branches

■

■

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1

2

3

4

CEO: Nick Roberts

CE0: Mike Newnham

CEO: Simon Oakland

CE0: Gavin Slark

Directors: David Kilburn, Mark Smith, Kate Tinsley

www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk

www.saint-gobain.co.uk

www.wolseley.co.uk

www.graftonplc.com

www.mkmbs.co.uk

5

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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.

For more information please contact:

UK PLUMBING SUPPLIES

100% L

Tel: 01488 662000 Email: hello@kerridgecs.com Web: www.kerridgecs.com

HUWS GRAY GROUP

83% H 17% L

LORDS GROUP TRADING

35% H 65% L

NATIONAL TIMBER GROUP Heavyside/ lightside split unavailable

Key Brands Plumbase

INDEPENDENT BUILDERS MERCHANT GROUP

97% H 3% L

HPS Plumbcity

Key Brands

Key Brands

Key Brands

Arnold Laver

Parkers

Hevey BS

NYT

Chandlers

Huws Gray

George Lines

Rembrand

Stamco

Plumbstore

Ridgeons

APP Wholesale

Thornbridge

Fairalls

£420m e

£358m

£287m

£250m e

£171m

c260

branches

105 branches

29 branches

56 branches

39 branches

Previous year N/A

2019 £381m 107 branches

2019 approx £98m 28 branches

2019 approx £253.4m c53 branches

2019 £178m 37 branches

Plumbstop Willbond UK Plumbing Supplies

Key Brands

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UK Plumbing Supplies

6

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HUWS

■■■

■■■

GRAY

Directors: Douglas Christie Angus Falconer

7

8

MD: Terry Owen Chair: John LL Jones

N/A

www.huwsgray.co.uk

CEO: Shanker Patel CFO: Chris Day www.lordsgrouptrading.co.uk

9 10 Group CEO: Rob Barclay

CEO: Andrew Cope CFO: Paul Barry Chair: Fiona Perrin

www.nationaltimbergroup.com

www.independentbm.com

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2020 forecast / estimated turnover

KEY

UK merchant operation numbers only, where possible. If full 2020 calendar year figures were not available, the most recent information has been used, as noted.

ESTIMATED HEAVYSIDE / LIGHTSIDE SPLIT IS INDICATED WHERE POSSIBLE. 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 and 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 2021

BRADFORDS

80% H 20% L

HALDANE GROUP

77% H 23% L

LAWSONS

EH SMITH

93% H 7% L

99% H 1% L

Key Brands

HOWARTH TIMBER & BUILDING SUPPLIES

Key Brands

Key Brands

Haldane Fisher

Lawsons

YPS Plumbing Supplies

Plumbmaster GE Robinson

AVS Fencing Supplies

£156m

£132m

£125.8m

£121.7m

£110m e

45 branches

20 branches

28 branches

10 branches

34 branches

Bradfords Building Supplies

2019 £144m 45 branches

■■■

2019 £130.6m 20 branches

■ ■ ■ ■■

2019 £95.1m 17 branches

■■■

Heavyside/ lightside split unavailable

2019 £139.2m 11 branches

■■■■■

Previous year £100.6m 33 branches (Figures show year end 31/3/2020)

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11 12 13 14 15 Group CEO: David Young www.bradfords.co.uk

Group CEO: Ian Haldane www.haldane-group.com

Joint MDs: Paul Rushent, Jeremy Norris Chair: Simon Lawson

MD: Mark Setchell Chair: John Parker

Joint MDs: Nicholas Howarth Andrew Howarth

www.lawsons.co.uk

www.ehsmith.co.uk

www.howarth-timber.co.uk

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PROFESSIONAL

BUILDERS MERCHANT

Top 20 merchants — 2021: The UK’s largest merchant businesses, based on turnover data for the 2020 calendar year NB: Subsequent to the

BUILDER DEPOT JT ATKINSON

WILLIAMS & CO

75% H 25% L

100% L

£108m

£98.9m

4 branches

Heavyside/ lightside split unavailable

JAMES HARGREAVES

2020 period our chart covers, Grant & Stone has made several major acquisitions — CRS, RGB, Buildit and Total Plumbing Supplies — which raises the Group’s turnover to approaching £250m and 74 branches.

GRANT & STONE

100% L

50% H 50% L

£93.7m

£89.4m

£79.7m

30 branches

39 branches

65 branches

30 branches

2019 £91m 30 branches

2019 £89.7m 38 branches

2019 £90m 61 branches

2019 £88.6m 29 branches

(Figures show year end 31/12/2019)

Previous year £106.7m 4 branches

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16 17 18 19 20 MD: Michael Aaronson

MD: Edwin Atkinson SD: Jamie Atkinson

MD: Ray Stafford

MD: Gordon Rothwell

CEO: Nick House COO: Peter Cudd

www.builderdepot.co.uk

www.jtatkinson.co.uk

www.williams.uk.com

www.jhplumbingdepot.co.uk

www.grantandstone.co.uk

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2021 Top 20: PBM provides the background context behind the UK merchant sector’s largest businesses’ trading during 2020.

It is no surprise to say the Covid-19 pandemic had a seismic impact on the performance of the UK’s largest merchant organisations, yet our countdown also shows the full range of activity as seen in any normal year — mergers, new depots, branch closures and new business activities.

Furthermore, 2021 has already seen some significant transformative action within the sector. Huws Gray, Lords Group Trading and the National Timber Group have all made acquisitions outside of our 2020 full year data period, whilst the series of major acquisitions made by Grant & Stone will propel the business some way up our countdown next time around. Selco and MKM are amongst those to have opened new branches, whilst Wolseley UK’s demerger from Ferguson plc was completed via private equity investment from Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in January.

Looking back to 2020, Travis Perkins plc continues to take its place at the head of our list. Our figures exclude Wickes to allow for a closer ‘like-for-like’ comparison (across the chart, direct comparisons are increasingly difficult given the broad constituent areas in which our Top 20 operate…), and the Group has reported “resilient trading amidst significant uncertainty” highlighting the “robust recovery” experienced during the second half of the year, driven by strong RMI demand.

Saint-Gobain Building Distribution maintains second, whilst Wolseley UK reclaims third following a year in which it “took steps to refocus the business on a

clear customer proposition, separating out the Building Services businesses and branches (Wolseley Pipe and Wolseley Climate) and Plumbing and Heating (Wolseley Plumb & Parts) to ensure that customers have access to a service and expertise that aligns to their needs”.

In fourth, Grafton Group plc’s CEO Gavin Slark acknowledged the impact of the crisis but reflected on the strong recovery in the second half of the year, outlining that the measures taken by the Group would have a lasting effect on its future performance. He said: “Grafton today is a stronger, more resilient, more digitally and sustainability savvy business than it was before the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic… underpinned by an improved customer proposition across all of our businesses.”

With ten locations added to its network in 2020, MKM outlined its plans to continue its new branch opening programme with 15-20 additional sites earmarked for 2021. In sixth, UK Plumbing Supplies is the first ‘new’ name on our countdown, having officially transitioned from Plumbing & Heating Investments Limited on 1st January 2020.

Reflecting the realities of a sustained period of branch closures, Huws Gray notes that “online sales more than tripled in 2020 as a direct impact of Covid-19” whilst the company also made a number of acquisitions to its network in 2020. The acquisition trail continues, with the purchase of Builders Suppliers (West Coast) finalised in February 2021.

Having just missed out last year, Lords

Group Trading makes a significant jump up the rankings as a result of its acquisition (in December 2019) of APP Wholesale. In March 2021, the Group’s Hevey Building Supplies brand announced the acquisition of MAP Building & Civil Engineering Supplies, continuing the growth plan for the family-owned Group, which is “aiming to become a top five supplier of building materials in the next five years.”

In ninth, the National Timber Group is another to have already expanded its operations in 2021 with its Arnold Laver arm acquiring Hymor Timber. In 2020, Arnold Laver joined NBG with its fellow brands such as North Yorkshire Timber, Thornbridge Sawmills and Rembrand Timber coming on board as associate members.

Concluding the Top 10, the Independent Builders Merchants Group said that 2020 was very much about consolidating and integrating its newly expanded businesses following a “busy year of acquisitions in 2019”. Doubtless echoing the sentiments of many, it added: “We look ahead to 2021 with a sense of optimism for strong customer demand and further growth opportunities, along with significant developments in our ecommerce capabilities across the Group.”

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

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