Grafton Group

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]

The company owns the Buildbase, Woodies, Civils and Lintels, Selco and Jacksons brands.[16] It also has a number of businesses that trade exclusively online.[17]

• Official site