The BMF and h&b Buying Group have extended their group membership agreement to include the 24 smaller merchants comprising the h&b Development Group.
Five merchants in the h&b Development Group are already BMF Members and the remaining 19, together with any new recruits, will be auto-enrolled into BMF membership during the period of the agreement. This new arrangement begins on 1 September and will bring the total number of BMF members to 751 – the highest figure since 1992.
The h&b Development Group is a relatively new concept for the merchant industry which offers carefully selected smaller independent merchants who have a desire to grow their operations, access to the vast amount of knowledge and experience within the membership, whilst also benefiting from the commercial advantages associated with an established buying group.
Jamie Wyatt, h&b Trading Director said: “We are delighted that the BMF has agreed to include our Development Group within the group membership scheme. Development Group members have access to a large range of negotiated deals and are also supported both centrally and through the existing network of successful entrepreneurs. Adding BMF membership into this mix is another valuable benefit that will support Development Group members over the coming years.”
John Newcomb, BMF Chief Executive, said: “The BMF is here to support merchants of all sizes and sectors – local, regional or national, generalist or specialist. h&b have shown their commitment to helping smaller merchants develop their business and BMF membership will provide even more opportunities for them, with access to training, specialist Forums, networking and other business support.
“I am also delighted to report that the latest tranche of h&b members not only takes us to our highest overall membership in almost 30 years, but also means there are very nearly 400 BMF merchant members operating from over 5,700 branches throughout the UK and Ireland.”
