Kellaway Building Supplies has bought Bridgwater-based company Western Timber and Building Supplies (WTBS) in an acquisition that sees the company’s branch network increase to 13 locations across Bristol and the South West.

The acquisition includes the Jennings Roofing Supplies and Jennings Plumbing Supplies brands. Rich and Dan Jennings, who set the business up in 2005, will join the Kellaway management team and be part of the plan to develop the merchant business in the Somerset area.

This purchase is the latest in a series of new sites and acquisitions, which has seen Kellaway Building Supplies grow from its original Bristol site in 1982 to a strong, regional, independent company supplying trade and DIY; with a goal of being the “Merchant of Choice” through a focus on staff development and delivering exceptional customer service.

Managing director, Julian Milligan, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming all of the WTBS team into the Kellaway Group. WTBS is a well-established and successful business and we look forward to improving the offering to the customer base and further expanding our business in Somerset. Developing the branch network enables us to better meet our customers’ needs, wherever in the region their work takes them and we aim to utilise the skills the WTBS business has in plumbing and roofing to broaden our product offering.”

Dan and Rich Jennings added: “We are very excited about joining the Kellaway Group and see an extremely bright future for the Bridgwater branches. We felt that as the business continued to grow and create more opportunities, it made commercial sense to be part of a larger organisation that gave security and career development for the staff, and will generate more benefits for the customer.”