NBG Partners’ businesses are continuing to show strong and continued growth with new branches and showrooms opening throughout the UK through expansion and acquisition. This is helping to drive the continued success in the independent merchanting sector.
NBG Partners are typically dynamic local businesses with a strong commitment to service, quality and innovation. Their entrepreneurial approach means that many NBG Partners are actively looking to expand and grow their businesses by acquisition, new branch openings, and diversification into different sectors such as plumbing and bathrooms.
The group has a combined turnover in excess of £850 million with branches spread across the UK, from the Channel Islands to the north of Scotland, making it an independent buying group with true national coverage. Examples of this growth are;
Blanchfords: Oxfordshire based Blanchford has added a fourth depot to its network with the opening of a new branch in Bicester, a town which has long been a target for this nearly 80 year old business. The new site is based on the company’s key criteria of having enough space to hold significant stock while being close enough to the existing branches in Oxford, Princes Risborough and Wallingford to create a tight knit co-operative network.
John Hayden, Purchasing Director at Blanchfords, said: “Bicester is an ideal location for us. Lots of new housing is being built or planned and with the UK’s first eco town and a new self build community underway, it really makes sense for us to be there.”
Connect Plumbing: NBG member Connect Plumbing Supplies is expanding its network with a new branch in Brentwood, Essex to add to its existing outlets in Rayleigh, Laindon and South Woodham Ferrers. Connect offers local plumbers a full range of plumbing and heating supplies, with a service based on expert staff and excellent customer service.
“Opening a branch in Brentwood was a logical choice for us,” says Connect’s Marc Glass. “It’s a well-populated affluent town, currently without a high quality independent plumbers’ merchant so we are confident that this new branch will continue our strong growth trajectory.”
Coastal Building Supplies: Coastal has expanded its Suffolk branch network to three with the opening of a new satellite depot on Dock Lane in Woodbridge, positioned strategically equidistant from its two existing branches in Ipswich and Leiston. The branch, which carries a full range of light and heavyside products plus plumbing supplies and tools, has been designed to target smaller, pick up orders whilst operating a delivery service too.
“This is an area we know well and believe makes perfect sense for our business,” says Coastal Director Mark Whitbread. “Woodbridge is a town with plenty of business available and now that we have found the right premises we believe that this will make an excellent addition to our group.” Coastal has used NBG new branch deals extensively to set up the depot, capitalising on introductory offers, merchandising support, and extra deals for new branches to get Coastal Woodbridge off to a flying start.
