Grafton Group plc is a builders merchants business based in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange, and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
History
The company was established by William Chadwick as Chadwicks (Dublin) Ltd in 1902.[2] It subsequently became Concrete Products of Ireland.[3] It was the subject of an initial public offering in 1965 and building materials company Marley subsequently took a 51% stake.[3] Michael Chadwick bought out Marley and renamed the business Grafton Group in 1987.[3]
In March 1998, it bought British Dredging, a United Kingdom builders merchants.[4] In February 2003, it bought Jackson Building Centres, another British builders merchants, based in Lincolnshire.[3]
In October 2003, it also bought Plumbline, Scotland's largest independent plumbers merchants.[5] In June 2004, it bought Heiton Group, Ireland’s largest independent plumbers merchants.[6] In December 2006, it then bought Plumbworld, one of the United Kingdom’s largest online bathroom retailers.[7]
In August 2013, it bought Wearside builders' merchant Thompsons,[8] in October 2013, it bought Binje Ackermans, a Brussels based merchanting operation,[9] and in December 2013, Grafton Group opened ten showrooms, and launched a brand new website called Bohen, which focuses on the bathroom, kitchen and bedroom industry.[10]
Then in September 2014, it bought Direct Builders Merchants, a general merchanting business based in Kent[11] and in December 2014, it bought Crescent Building Supplies, a builders' merchant based in Ruislip.[12] In March 2015, it bought TG Lynes, a distributor of mechanical engineering products,[13] in January 2016, it bought T Brewer, a timber distributor based in London,[14] and in March 2016, it bought Allsand Supplies, a general builders' merchant located in Kent.[15]
Previous logo
In January 2022 the company announced the completion of the sale of its merchanting business in the UK to Huws Gray for £520m. Businesses sold include Buildbase, Civils & Lintels, PDM Buildbase, The Timber Group, Bathroom Distribution Group, Frontline and NDI Brands.[16]
Operations
The company currently owns four physical "bricks and mortar" businesses, Woodie's DIY, Civils and Lintels, Selco and Jacksons brands.[17] It also has a number of businesses that trade exclusively online.[18]
