Anglesey-based building materials company Huws Gray has been very busy on the acquisition trail as it announces a hat-trick of successful Spring acquisitions.
Following February’s acquisition of Laycocks Timber Merchants in Wigan, Huws Gray are delighted to announce an increased presence in South Gwynedd as well as the opening of their first branches in Powys and Staffordshire which takes the company up to 39 trading locations and further establishes the company as the largest independent builders merchant in Wales and North-West England.
Huws Gray Managing Director, Terry Owen is delighted with the new acquisitions:-
“After a period of consolidation in 2011, we are excited to be bringing these new branches on board. Despite the challenging economic conditions, we remain positive and feel that the new additions offer a great deal of commercial potential as well as providing wonderful opportunities for us to develop our staff.
“As a company we are always looking for opportunities to extend our branch network and firmly believe that all three acquisitions are excellent fits for us in terms of location and business potential.”
LLANIDLOES
Huws Gray recently acquired Llanidloes Building Supplies, which has become the company’s first branch location in Powys. The branch will continue trading as Llanidloes Building Supplies for the time being, and the continuity is further shown with a member of the founding family, Craig Richards, operating as the Branch Manager.
DYFFRYN ARDUDWY
Another family business, J & B Willbrook, based at Dyffryn Ardudwy between Barmouth and Harlech on the Cambrian coast has become the latest Huws Gray branch in Gwynedd
Terry Owen is looking forward to working with the current team:-
“I’m keen to ensure that Huws Gray maintains the excellent reputation that Willbrooks have rightly earned over the last seven years, as well as working alongside the current team there to further develop opportunities within the branch.”
BLYTHE BRIDGE (STOKE ON TRENT)
The third acquisition has seen Huws Gray take on the site previously occupied by Finney Forest at Blythe Bridge on the outskirts of Stoke on Trent.
According to Huws Gray Director, Dewi Morris, the site which previously operated as a timber specialist, will be refurbished with a view to opening a mixed branch in June.
“The Blythe Bridge site offers a fantastic location for us to start trading in Staffordshire. We are busy recruiting staff at the moment and I’m delighted to be able to offer employment opportunities in the middle of this economic downturn.”
A team of solicitors from Weightmans LLP Liverpool office led by corporate partner Bruce Robinson, assisted by corporate assistant Bhavisha Mistry, real estate specialist Amanda Hurst and employment lawyer Matt Smith, acted for Huws Gray.
Bruce Robinson of Weightmans LLP said:-
“These acquisitions, which follow on from the acquisition of Laycocks Timber Merchants Limited earlier this year, reinforce Huws Gray’s position as the leading independent builders merchants in the North West of England and Wales. Our relationship with the company is a long standing one and we are delighted to be associated with such a successful business that has developed one of the strongest independent brands in its sector within England and Wales”