Orchard Timber Products has joined National Timber Group, which was created through the acquisitions of Thornbridge, NYTimber, Rembrand and Arnold Laver and is now reportedly the largest independent timber distribution and processing group in the UK.
Orchard Timber, established in 2004, is a specialist distributor of timber, sheet materials, kitchens, doors, solid wood flooring, and decking, supplying a range of local housebuilders, contractors, and RMI-focused joiners. Headquartered in Forfar, Scotland, the company has a second depot in Livingston and a sales office in Aberdeen. Employing 90 people, it achieved £27m in revenue in 2021.
With “shared customer service values”, the acquisition is said to fulfil two strategic objectives for NTG. Geographically, it complements NTG’s footprint by extending its presence into West Lothian and up the North East coast of Scotland, filling gaps in the Group’s branch network. Secondly, Orchard Timber’s strengths in solid wood flooring – it is the national distribution partner for Kährs Flooring and the brand’s largest stockist in the UK, carrying over 20,000m2 of solid wood flooring at any given time – provide NTG with a highly complementary extension to its existing product range.
Equally, Orchard Timber and its customers will “benefit from access to the processing and bespoke moulding capabilities of NTG” following the deal.
Orchard Timber joins NTG’s Scottish division and will continue to trade under its successful trading name and brand. Scott McKinlay, Kevin Golder, and Stuart Fraser, Orchard Timber’s owners, will remain in the business, working with Nick Ratcliffe, Managing Director of NTG’s Scottish division, to ensure its smooth integration into the Group and to “realise the opportunities that this transaction offers for future growth”.
Rob Barclay, Chief Executive of National Timber Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Orchard to the Group. We both share a strong commitment to our customers and a passion for timber products, which makes this an obvious and complementary partnership. Together, we will increase our offering in the timber flooring category and improve our footprint in Scotland, enhancing our customers’ experience.”
Scott McKinlay, Managing Director of Orchard Timber, added: “For some time my fellow shareholders, Stuart Fraser, Kevin Golder, and I have been considering how best to develop Orchard Timber Products further. When the opportunity came about to partner with National Timber Group, we were delighted to find we share the same passion and determination to drive the business forward. After this, the decision to join the Group was an easy one. I look forward with real enthusiasm to this new chapter in Orchard’s history.”
The National Timber Group umbrella brand was created in November 2018, with the acquisitions facilitated by investment from Cairngorm Capital. Cairngorm’s other investments include the Independent Builders Merchant Group.
Related news
National Timber Group goes live with eCommonSense platform
