National Buying Group partners are reporting strong trading and many members are successfully carrying out growth, acquisition and expansion strategies.

“NBG partners are typically entrepreneurial businesses with a strong presence in their local communities,” says NBG’s Nick Oates. “Many of them are capitalising on that strength by expanding and develop developing their businesses, opening new branches and diversifying into related areas, supported by NBG deals from the industry’s top brands.”

Based in South Wales, timber and general merchant group Hughes Forrest has increased its branch network by adding a new dual branch site in Pontypridd. It bought a local business and has revamped and rebranded the site as Hughes Forrest. It has also moved its roofing division to the site, continuing trading throughout.

Nick Bulpin, Hughes Forrest MD, reports that the new site is already trading strongly: “There was a lot of residual good will for the existing merchant, but we have improved on its position by investing strongly in stock, using NBG deals across the board. The site is convenient for customers and we’ve made a very encouraging start.”

One of NBG’s partners in Yorkshire has doubled its branch presence with the opening of a new branch in Leeds.

W Madden has opened a new depot on a busy main road with strong early results. The mixed merchant chose the site because of its strong passing traffic and has received plenty of support from NBG suppliers. “We have had some great deals from suppliers for the new branch, simply because we are NBG members,” says Madden’s Paul Wilkinson. “I’ve been so impressed by the support we’ve received and that has reflected in the branch’s successful start.”

NBG member D.W. Nye has acquired power tool and fixings specialist Fixing & Powertools Center. The acquisition offers Nyes a perfect fit with its existing Dorking-based general merchant business and gives it a valuable foothold in prime position in a prime town centre location.

FPTC is well known in Surrey for the purchase and resale of power tools, general fixings, clothing and chemicals. An on-site workshop offers repairs, servicing and warranty repair work on all types of power tools.

NBG is a buying group for independent merchants. It has more than 80 partner merchants, which together have more than 300 outlets across the UK.