M&J has announced that it has acquired GTI Direct (GTI), adding a fifth location to the Group’s portfolio.

GTI, a Dunoon-based business that already has long-standing ties with M&J, was established nearly 30 years ago as a UK-wide distributor of insulation, energy efficiency and carbon reduction eco products, and in the recent years has set up a timber and builders’ merchant division.

M&J is family-owned and -run independent merchant group established in 1999 that operates a timber and mixed light and heavyside business, catering for both public and trade customers from its two branches in Greenock and Largs.

In 2019 M&J opened a new three acre (130,000 sq ft) storage and distribution hub near its head office branch in Greenock. The same year, the group acquired South Lanarkshire Building Supplies, retaining the strong local brand. SLB operates from a four-acre site in Larkhall. The GTI acquisition now makes the M&J Group a five-branch operation.

As a result of the move, GTI becomes a member of h&b, which the M&J Group joined in 2013. 

M&J have a long-standing relationship with GTI, being a supplier of some of its general building materials over the last seven years, so the acquisition was a logical next step to expand M&J across west and central Scotland. The deal allows M&J to service the Cowal peninsula and Argyll more easily and gives GTI access to h&b buying deals and a wider product offering for existing and potential customers in the area. M&J has also acquired a two-acre site adjacent to the existing GTI depot to expand the builders’ merchant division of the GTI business.

Mark Rodger of M&J Group commented: “GTI compliments our already well-established brands in Scotland and this new acquisition fits exceptionally well with our vision to be the best provider of building products in the eyes of our customers, employees, suppliers, and communities.

“The existing management team, led by GTI Managing Director, Martin Clayton, as well as all staff are staying in place in their current roles, and we are excited about combining operational expertise and knowledge and aim to share best practice from all our business units to create a leading Scottish merchanting organisation.”