Expanding horizons

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has signed a group membership agreement with Allied Merchants Buying Association (AMBA), Ireland’s leading independent merchant buying group.

Formed in 2011, AMBA is the fastest growing merchant buying group in Ireland, encompassing 17 members with 85 outlets and an annual spend of some €130m on building materials, plumbing and heating goods and timber products. Total turnover of members is around €230m. All 17 AMBA members will join the BMF on December 1st, 2017

John Newcomb, BMF CEO said:“While the BMF has always had the ability within its constitution to extend its reach into Ireland, strategically the impetus to join had to come from Irish merchants. When AMBA made their request, we were delighted to respond and look forward to providing our full range of training and support services to their members. We are very excited at the prospect of developing our alliance and extending our core membership benefits to AMBA’s members.”

Keith Giblin, AMBA CEO explained why AMBA has joined the BMF: “AMBA’s fundamental purpose is as a low cost, highly professional group with strategically placed members working with partner suppliers. Our Buying Group has grown rapidly since its inception, successfully ensuring we defend and grow our members’ competitive position, profitability and market share by working together. We are continually focussed on adding further value to our members and an alliance with the BMF offers numerous opportunities to enhance our members’ businesses. Foremost amongst these is the BMF’s approach to recruitment, which is helping to attract and develop talented people within the merchant industry.”