Data Yard, the industry-owned data pool established by BMF and NMBS, has marked its first anniversary and achieved another milestone with the announcement of its 11th shareholder, MKM Building Supplies.
Over the past 12 months, Data Yard has progressed from a concept to a live, operational platform, driven by a dedicated team of specialists in product data and data pool management. Its mission is to streamline the sharing of product information between suppliers and merchants by providing a centralised, secure platform that improves data quality and reduces duplication.
Commenting on the latest announcement, BMF CEO John Newcomb said: “We are delighted that MKM, one of the country’s fastest-growing merchant groups, has recognised the value of Data Yard as our latest shareholder. This means that Data Yard’s merchant shareholders now account for almost 55% of the UK’s total merchant market.”
Reflecting more broadly on the platform’s first year of operation, Data Yard MD Gareth Thomas said: “We have made strong progress. The infrastructure is fully in place, with both suppliers and merchants actively engaging.
“We currently have 70 suppliers signed up to Data Yard. Several have already completed the onboarding process, and the rate of progress continues to accelerate, with more progressing through over the coming months. The core challenge we are addressing is improving the quality, consistency, and depth of product data, ensuring it aligns with both market needs and increasing government requirements.”
Gareth continued: “On the merchant side, mapping exercises are underway so that, once supplier data is ready, it can be seamlessly ingested into ERP and PIM systems. We’ve been working closely with ERP and PIM providers to remove any barriers ahead of going live later this year. We are also keen to broaden representation, particularly by bringing in plumbing and heating merchants to ensure a more balanced reflection of the industry.
“Looking ahead, the next 12 months will focus on scaling adoption, increasing supplier data coverage, and driving deeper integration into merchant systems, ultimately embedding Data Yard into business-as-usual processes across the industry.”
Suppliers and Merchants who would like to join Data Yard and streamline the sharing of product information should email gareth.thomas@bmds-idp.com
Established in April 2025, Data Yard is managed by Building Materials Digital Services (a joint venture between the BMF and NMBS) and serves as a central data platform for the building materials industry. It enables manufacturers to submit product data in one place while providing buying groups and merchants with a single, reliable source of information.
Backed by shareholders now representing approximately 55% of the market, Data Yard exists to raise the standard and consistency of product data across the building materials supply chain.
