The latest agreement increases the trade association's membership in Ireland to over 70 merchants.

The Builders Merchants Federation has extended its group membership agreement with Topline Group, the leading buying group in Ireland, supplying DIY and building materials to affiliated stores nationwide. 

The agreement brings 42 Topline Group merchant members into BMF membership from today (1 November). This is in addition to the 12 Topline Group members who joined the BMF in 2022 and is part of a three-year development plan announced at that time, to bring the majority of Topline Group merchants into BMF membership.

Hugh O’Donnell, Topline Group CEO, said: “Building long-term partnerships with the best suppliers and support organisations has always been important to us.

"The BMF has established itself as a useful and valuable resource for Topline Group members that joined last year. We are delighted that a larger cohort of our members will now benefit from the BMF’s full range of training and support services and hope we can extend BMF membership further in future.”

John Newcomb, BMF CEO said: “We are committed to extending the BMF’s reach and strengthening our position in the Irish market by forging strong relationships with two of country’s most important buying groups, Topline Group and Allied Merchants Buying Association. 

“Our latest agreement increases BMF membership in Ireland to over 70 merchants and puts us on track to end the year with a total of 950 members across the UK and Ireland.”