Grafton Group
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Grafton Group plc
| logo = Grafton_Group_New_Logo.svg
| type = Public limited company
| traded_as = {{ubl|{{lse|GFTU}}|FTSE 250 component}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1902}}
| location = Dublin, Ireland
| key_people = Michael Roney (Chairman)
Eric Born (CEO)
| revenue = {{decrease}} € 2,282.3 million (2024){{cite web|url=https://www.graftonplc.com/~/media/Files/G/Grafton-Group/1%20full%20year%20results%202024/Grafton%20Group%20plc%20-%20Final%20Results%20-%2031%20December%202024%20Final.pdf|title=Annual Results 2024|publisher=Grafton Group|access-date=6 March 2025}}
| operating_income = {{decrease}} € 152.6 million (2024)
| net_income = {{decrease}} € 122.0 million (2024)
| num_employees =
| industry = Building materials
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.graftonplc.com|graftonplc.com}}
}}
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.[http://www.businessandfinance.ie/index.jsp?p=612&n=617&a=2935 Michael Chadwick: Grafton Group] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303050519/http://www.businessandfinance.ie/index.jsp?p=612&n=617&a=2935 |date=2013-03-03 }} Business & Finance, 2010 It subsequently became Concrete Products of Ireland.[http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/beating-the-budget-blues-2959860.html Beating the Budget blues] The Independent, 10 December 2011 It was the subject of an initial public offering in 1965 and building materials company Marley subsequently took a 51% stake. Michael Chadwick bought out Marley and renamed the business Grafton Group in 1987.
File:Selco, Baguley - geograph.org.uk - 1134474.jpg
In March 1998, it bought British Dredging, a United Kingdom builders merchants including the Selco chain.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/grafton-is-tracking-british-dredging-26192678.html|title=Grafton is tracking British Dredging|publisher=www.independent.ie|date=10 March 1998}} In February 2003, it bought Jackson Building Centres, another British builders merchants, based in Lincolnshire.
In October 2003, it also bought Plumbline, Scotland's largest independent plumbers merchants.{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/business/retail/plumbline-duo-cash-in-as-grafton-enters-scotland-1-667451|title=Plumbline duo cash in as Grafton enters Scotland|publisher=www.scotsman.com|date=7 October 2003}} In June 2004, it bought Heiton Group, Ireland’s largest independent plumbers merchants.[https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/archive/grafton-boosted-by-heiton-buy-13-09-2005/ Grafton boosted by Heiton buy] Construction News, 13 September 2005 In December 2006, it then bought Plumbworld, one of the United Kingdom’s largest online bathroom retailers.[http://www.journalism.co.uk/press-releases/plumbworld-appoint-new-deputy-managing-director-/s66/a550067/ Plumbworld appoint new deputy Managing Director] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018043641/http://www.journalism.co.uk/press-releases/plumbworld-appoint-new-deputy-managing-director-/s66/a550067/ |date=2013-10-18 }} Journalism, 13 August 2012
In August 2013, it bought Wearside builders' merchant Thompsons,{{cite web|url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/thompsons-merchants-acquired-38m-grafton-5800704|title=Thompsons merchants acquired for £3.8m by Grafton group|author=Robert Gibson|date=29 August 2013|work=journallive|access-date=9 April 2016|archive-date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420064252/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/thompsons-merchants-acquired-38m-grafton-5800704|url-status=dead}} in October 2013, it bought Binje Ackermans, a Brussels based merchanting operation,{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/grafton-group-acquires-binje-ackermans-for-205m-29677123.html|title=Grafton Group acquires Binje Ackermans for €20.5m|work=Independent.ie|date=21 October 2013 |access-date=9 April 2016}} 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.{{cite news|title=Campaign unveiled to launch new kitchen, bedroom and bathroom brand Bohen|url=http://www.themarketcreative.com/our-news-campaign-unveiled-to-launch-new-kitchen-bedroom-and-bathroom-brand-bohen/|access-date=31 December 2013|archive-date=1 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101071930/http://www.themarketcreative.com/our-news-campaign-unveiled-to-launch-new-kitchen-bedroom-and-bathroom-brand-bohen/|url-status=dead}}
Then in September 2014, it bought Direct Builders Merchants, a general merchanting business based in Kent{{cite web|url=http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/AN_1409554683085691700/grafton-group-buys-kent-based-direct-builders-merchants-.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807213842/http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/AN_1409554683085691700/grafton-group-buys-kent-based-direct-builders-merchants-.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 August 2016|title=Grafton Group Buys Kent-Based Direct Builders... - Morningstar|work=MorningstarUK|access-date=9 April 2016}} and in December 2014, it bought Crescent Building Supplies, a builders' merchant based in Ruislip.{{cite web|url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/ruislip-based-builders-merchants-bought-out-8225227|title=Ruislip-based builders' merchants bought out by multi-billion pound firm|author=Will Ackermann|date=4 December 2014|work=getwestlondon|access-date=9 April 2016}} In March 2015, it bought TG Lynes, a distributor of mechanical engineering products,{{cite web|url=http://www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/10578|title=Grafton Group acquires TG Lynes|access-date=9 April 2016}} in January 2016, it bought T Brewer, a timber distributor based in London,{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/grafton-group-acquires-london-timber-firm-t-brewer-1.2485385|title=Grafton Group acquires London timber firm T Brewer|date=5 January 2016|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=9 April 2016}} and in March 2016, it bought Allsand Supplies, a general builders' merchant located in Kent.{{cite web|url=http://www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/11981/Grafton_Group_acquires_Allsand_Supplies_.html|title=Grafton Group acquires Allsand Supplies|date=2 February 2016 |access-date=9 April 2016}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/grafton-group-completes-sale-of-traditional-merchanting-business-in-britain-41207096.html|title=Grafton Group completes sale of traditional merchanting business in Britain|website=independent|date=4 January 2022 }}
Operations
The company currently owns four physical "bricks and mortar" businesses, Woodie's DIY, Civils and Lintels, Selco and Jacksons brands.[http://www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net/news/news.asp?id=6877&title=Grafton+group+suffers+from+bad+weather Grafton group suffers from bad weather] Builders Merchant Journal, 6 May 2010 It also has a number of businesses that trade exclusively online.[http://www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk/news/archivestory.php/aid/2524/Grafton_Merchanting_buys_online_merchant.html Grafton Merchanting buys online merchant] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818173124/http://www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk/news/archivestory.php/aid/2524/Grafton_Merchanting_buys_online_merchant.html |date=18 August 2017 }} Builder's Merchant News, 30 June 2010
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.graftonplc.com Official site]
{{FTSE 250 Index constituents}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Companies formerly listed on Euronext Dublin
Category:Business services companies established in 1902
Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange