Gibbs & Dandy is celebrating the official opening of the latest branch in its network, as it cuts the ribbon on its new Stevenage branch.

Gibbs & Dandy elected to open the branch in response to the closure of generational merchant Chas Lowe & Sons based in nearby Knebworth. The national business stepped in to continue the supply to the area’s building community and to safeguard local jobs, offering new roles to all Chas Lowe & Sons team members.

Kevin Lowe, son of founder Charles Lowe and a former Chas Lowe & Sons director, now sales director at the Stevenage branch, joined Gibbs & Dandy Sales Director Andrew Cushing and Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland at the event to conduct the formal ribbon cutting ceremony.

Stevenage FC first team players were also in attendance at the celebratory event, taking on the public in a football challenge in aid of local charity Garden House Hospice.

The Stevenage branch is the company’s third premises in the local area, alongside its Bedford and flagship, seven-acre Luton site.