The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has agreed group membership terms with the H&B Buying Group, one of the largest co-operative buying organisations for independent merchants.

H&B represents 78 merchants across England, Scotland and Wales, 31 of which are existing BMF members. It will benefit from the new group terms along with H&B members who are not yet in BMF membership.

John Newcomb, managing director of the BMF, said: “Our aim has always been to represent the whole building materials supply chain. With this arrangement in place, we now have group membership terms with all but one of the main buying groups, which is a great achievement.”

H&B chairman Peter Buttle added: “Around 40% of H&B members are already benefitting from their involvement with the BMF and, as a past president, I am pleased that our whole buying group now has the opportunity to become more closely aligned. I will certainly encourage all H&B members to take advantage of the group scheme.”