GENSOCIAL
A Stoke-on-Trent timber firm has been snapped up by one of the UK’s largest sawmilling businesses.
SCA Wood Supply UK Ltd – the building and supply solutions division of SCA – has been sold to BSW.
The company, which is based in Etruscan Street, Etruria, specialises in the manufacture and distribution of timber and associated products for the home improvement and builders merchant sector across the UK.
As part of the deal, BSW will acquire SCA Wood Supply UK’s headquarters and distribution centre in Stoke-on-Trent and three other distribution sites in Welshpool, Melton and Cumbernauld – as well as around 280 SCA employees.
Jerry Larsson, president of Sweden-headquartered SCA, said: “We have been very pleased with the development of SCA Wood Supply UK, both in the home improvement and builders merchant sector, but we believe that the business will further develop under the ownership of BSW.
“We will continue to supply sawn timber to BSW Timber, for sale on the UK market, in addition to our existing UK industrial solutions import and distribution operations, which remain part of SCA Wood.”
The BSW Group – which encompasses BSW Timber – is based in Earlston within the Scottish Borders.
It is the largest sawmilling business in the UK and operates out of seven sites across the nation including in Carlisle and Southampton.
The move will take BSW Group’s combined turnover to in excess of £500 million.
It also heralds the beginning of BSW’s growth strategy under the ownership of Endless LLP.
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Tony Hackney, CEO of BSW, said: “We are very pleased to have agreed a common approach with SCA to acquire the UK operations, which will significantly strengthen our position with our expanding customer base.
“The opportunity to add value to our established products and widen the products we offer and distribute is extremely exciting. This major milestone in the timber industry provides our customers with a strengthened and broader range and will extend our excellent service provision.
“Through this acquisition, we will deliver a combined package of timber solutions adding to the security of supply for the market.”
