Grafton Group

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Grafton Group plc
Company typePublic limited company
IndustryBuilding materials
Founded1902; 123 years ago (1902)
HeadquartersDublin, Ireland[1]
Key people
Michael Roney (Chairman)
Eric Born (CEO)
RevenueDecrease € 2,282.3 million (2024)[2]
Decrease € 152.6 million (2024)[2]
Decrease € 122.0 million (2024)[2]
Websitegraftonplc.com

Grafton Group plc is a builders merchants business headquartered in Ireland and operating in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange, and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

History

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Early years (1902–1987)

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Previous logo

In 1902, William Thomas Chadwick established a builders' merchants and building contractors business in Dublin. It was incorporated as Chadwicks (Dublin) Ltd in 1909.[3][4]

In 1930, Chadwick acquired a roof tile and concrete block manufacturing business in Dublin.[5][4] He registered that business as Concrete Products of Ireland Ltd in 1931.[6][7]

Concrete Products of Ireland Ltd became a public limited company (plc) and incorporated Chadwicks (Dublin) Ltd in 1965, and building materials company Marley increased its holding in the company to 51%.[7] Michael Chadwick bought out Marley and renamed the business Grafton Group in 1987.[7]

Expansion in Ireland and the UK (1988–2012)

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In 1988, Concrete Products of Ireland plc changed its name to Grafton Group plc.[4]

In March 1998, it bought British Dredging, a United Kingdom builders merchants including the Selco chain.[8] In February 2003, it bought Jackson Building Centres, another British builders merchants, based in Lincolnshire.[7]

In October 2003, it also bought Plumbline, Scotland's largest independent plumbers merchants.[9] In June 2004, it bought Heiton Group, Ireland’s largest independent plumbers merchants.[10] In December 2006, it then bought Plumbworld, one of the United Kingdom’s largest online bathroom retailers.[11]

Recent developments (2013–present)

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Selco is part of Grafton Group.

In August 2013, it bought Wearside builders' merchant Thompsons,[12] in October 2013, it bought Binje Ackermans, a Brussels based merchanting operation,[13] 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.[14]

Then in September 2014, it bought Direct Builders Merchants, a general merchanting business based in Kent[15] and in December 2014, it bought Crescent Building Supplies, a builders' merchant based in Ruislip.[16] In March 2015, it bought TG Lynes, a distributor of mechanical engineering products,[17] in January 2016, it bought T Brewer, a timber distributor based in London,[18] and in March 2016, it bought Allsand Supplies, a general builders' merchant located in Kent.[19]

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.[20]

Operations

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The company currently owns four physical "bricks and mortar" businesses, Woodie's DIY, Civils and Lintels, Selco and Jacksons brands.[21] It also has a number of businesses that trade exclusively online.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Brennan, Joe. "Grafton returns to UK profit growth despite weak home improvements market". The Irish Times.
  2. ^ a b c "Annual Results 2024" (PDF). Grafton Group. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  3. ^ Michael Chadwick: Grafton Group Archived 2013-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Business & Finance, 2010
  4. ^ a b c "Our history". www.graftonplc.com. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  5. ^ McCaffrey, Una (16 September 2005). "Chadwick keeps Grafton sailing down easy street". The Irish Times. p. 32.
  6. ^ "Grafton Group Public Limited Company". Companies Registration Office. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d "Beating the Budget blues". www.independent.ie. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011.
  8. ^ "Grafton is tracking British Dredging". www.independent.ie. 10 March 1998.
  9. ^ "Plumbline duo cash in as Grafton enters Scotland". The Scotsman. 7 October 2003. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  10. ^ Grafton boosted by Heiton buy Construction News, 13 September 2005
  11. ^ Plumbworld appoint new deputy Managing Director Archived 2013-10-18 at the Wayback Machine Journalism, 13 August 2012
  12. ^ Robert Gibson (29 August 2013). "Thompsons merchants acquired for £3.8m by Grafton group". journallive. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Grafton Group acquires Binje Ackermans for €20.5m". Independent.ie. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  14. ^ "Campaign unveiled to launch new kitchen, bedroom and bathroom brand Bohen". Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  15. ^ "Grafton Group Buys Kent-Based Direct Builders... - Morningstar". MorningstarUK. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  16. ^ Will Ackermann (4 December 2014). "Ruislip-based builders' merchants bought out by multi-billion pound firm". getwestlondon. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  17. ^ "Grafton Group acquires TG Lynes". www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Grafton Group acquires London timber firm T Brewer". The Irish Times. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  19. ^ "Grafton Group acquires Allsand Supplies". 2 February 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  20. ^ "Grafton Group completes sale of traditional merchanting business in Britain". independent. 4 January 2022.
  21. ^ "News - Builders Merchants Journal - BMJ". Archived from the original on 24 January 2011.
  22. ^ Grafton Merchanting buys online merchant Archived 18 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine Builder's Merchant News, 30 June 2010
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