Flooring distributor Headlam Group has announced plans to consolidate several of its local trading businesses into one brand, called Mercado, in an effort to accelerate its growth.
The company says it will be unifying its 32 local trading businesses into Mercado stores. Headlam Group says that it believes having all of the stores trading under one name will allow it to be more efficient, and make it easier for customers to work with.
Following the consolidation and rollout of Mercado, customers will have access to one single national product and price list. Headlam says that the Mercado consolidation will also make things easier for its Trade Counter customers, as they will now be able to order and collect products from anywhere.
To further increase efficiency, Headlam says that it is also launching a new specialist e-commerce website and app, which will allow customers to shop its products from anywhere.
In addition, Headlam also plans to open a new distribution site in Rayleigh, which the company says will make it better placed to meet delivery expectations going forwards.
Headlam Group says that despite the current industry challenges impacting the flooring sector, it believes the business evolution presents the company with a “unique opportunity to be at the forefront of sector recovery”.
Chris Payne, CEO at Headlam, explained: “In May 2024 we announced plans to accelerate our customer-led growth strategy by simplifying our business model. We took the time to listen to our customers, suppliers and colleagues and their valuable insights have shaped our strategy for the better.
“There is real growth opportunity in the flooring sector and we are evolving to be at the fore of sector recovery. We are putting our customers at the heart of our strategy, offering them more products, nationwide availability and streamlined ordering processes; making working with Headlam easier and more convenient.
“We remain committed to our customers, whether independent retailer, fitter, contractor or supplier. By continuing to work with Headlam, our customers will continue to have access to the company’s unrivalled scale, including the largest fleet, a national distribution network and the broadest range of products in the UK.
“Mercado is the right choice for the future, as it is a brand that has been serving the UK for almost 100 years, with existing national recognition and customer trust. We look forward to introducing these exciting changes over the coming months.”
