The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has agreed its first group membership scheme with a specialist plumbing and heating buying group.
Established in January 2013, PHG is a leading independent buying organisation for plumbing, heating and sanitaryware products. It represents 21 merchants with 215 trade counters and 92 bathroom showrooms nationwide.

Starting from 1 January 2014, the group membership agreement will see 14 new members joining the BMF, with the other seven PHG merchants already in membership. Any new merchants joining PHG during the period of the agreement will be auto-enrolled into BMF membership.

BMF managing director, John Newcomb, said: 'This is the BMF's third buying group agreement and I am especially pleased to welcome PHG members to the BMF. There has been a misperception that the BMF doesn't represent plumbing and heating interests, but if there was any justification for this view in the past, it is definitely not the case today.

'We are listening to what's important to every sector of the merchanting industry and will proactively represent all members' best interests.'

As an increasing number of plumbing, heating and bathroom specialists take up membership, the BMF is creating a separate identity for the sector and setting up a new group and specific meetings for the specialist merchants and suppliers.

Mr Newcomb said: 'While many BMF services and initiatives are relevant across the full spectrum of our members, we recognise that certain issues are only relevant to the plumbing and heating sector, and we have a responsibility to facilitate that debate and, where appropriate, to promote their views to a wider audience.'