Corporate News

‘New opening to support growth and tradespeople throughout Oxfordshire’

Lords, a leading distributor of building materials in the UK, is pleased to announce that Lords Builders Merchants and Advance Roofing Supplies, which operate within the Merchanting division, have today opened a new branch in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

Located on the Lords Trading Estate in Bicester, the new branch provides 13,000 sq .ft. of warehouse and retail space and sits within a one acre site.  The location is already well known to local tradespeople as it was formerly operated by Blanchford Building Supplies, and under its new ownership will now offer a dedicated local solution for customers needing expert roofing materials and service.

This new branch will allow Lords to support more tradespeople across the Oxfordshire region, offering the same quality products, expert advice and friendly service its customers rely on to get the job done. It is a key step in the Group’s ambition to make life easier for the trade; with more locations, better stock availability and a team that really understands what customers need. The branch will also provide several new jobs in the local community, and another opportunity for Lords to put its people-first values into action. 

Shanker Patel, Chief Executive Officer of Lords, said: “When this site became available, with the location of Lords Farm, on Lords Trading Estate, in Lords Lane, with an address like that, it was destiny that Lords should open here! This new branch, operated by Lords Builders Merchants and Advance Roofing Supplies, will immediately fill the void for local tradespeople that was left when Blanchford’s closed earlier this year.  As a well-established business, we offer premium building supplies and specialist  roofing products at competitive prices and we look forward to serving the needs of the local community.”

The Bicester branch marks a key step in Lords’ growth strategy and continues the Group’s commitment to supporting the trade with reliable service, strong stock and a customer-first approach. It will also create new local jobs and provide a convenient new option for customers in the region. Customers can expect a full range of building materials and roofing products, all supported by experienced teams and same-day local delivery options.

Steve Durdant-Hollamby, Chief Operating Officer of Lords Merchanting division, said: “We are proud to be opening in Bicester today and building on the trusted service we are known for.  This new location helps us support more customers, combine the strengths of Advance Roofing and Lords Builders Merchants, and become part of a vibrant local trade community.  We are really looking forward to welcoming new faces, as well as some familiar ones, through the doors.” 

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Notes to editors:

Lords is a specialist distributor of building, plumbing, heating and DIY goods.  The Group principally sells to local tradesmen, small to medium sized plumbing and heating merchants, construction companies and retails directly to the general public.

The Group operates through the following two divisions:

• Merchanting: supplies building materials and DIY goods through its network of merchant businesses and online platform capabilities.  It operates both in the 'light side' (building materials and timber) and 'heavy side' (civils and landscaping), through 31 locations in the UK.
• Plumbing and Heating: a specialist distributor in the UK of plumbing and heating products to a UK network of independent merchants, installers and the general public.  The division offers its customers an attractive proposition through a multi-channel offering.  The division operates over 16 locations enabling nationwide next day delivery service.

Lords was established over 40 years ago as a family business with its first retail unit in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.  Since then, the Group has grown to a business operating from 47 sites.

For additional information please visit www.lordsgrouptradingplc.co.uk.