NORMAN PIETTE’S takeover of the Guernsey Annandale Tile Company is not creating a monopoly, insists NP chief executive Tony Gallienne. With effect from Monday 4 February, the NP Group will take over Annandale’s operation at Marais Lane, Vale, which includes the supply of concrete blocks, roofing materials, sand, gravel and aggregate to the building industry.
Mr Gallienne said Norman Piette might be considered dominant in that it supplies a wider range of materials from one place than any other company, but it did not have a monopoly, as a look at the Yellow Pages would reveal.
‘There are many companies who are suppliers to the building industry and are competitors of Norman Piette.
‘Some of the most successful companies in the local materials supply chain are quite small, very specialist and are a viable alternative to dealing with Norman Piette.
‘Additionally, on a daily basis, Norman Piette is quoting for the supply of materials against UK merchants which are larger than us, operate from a lower cost base and have the benefit of scale when it comes to buying their materials.’
He said the group was aware of its responsibility to the building industry and to the island community.
‘We are aware that any abuse of our position will only disillusion our customers and the wider building industry and damage our business in the long term.’
Richard Gill, whose family owned Annandale, said they had been considering selling it for some time and they were delighted that it would be staying in local ownership.
‘I’m pleased that the NP Group will not only continue the business at Marais Lane, but will also enhance the range of products and services offered from the site. This will only serve to benefit the local industry.’
The NP Group is wholly owned in Guernsey and among its five companies it has Norman Piette, the builders’ merchant, and Quayside, the home and leisure store.
Annandale Limited, a new company formed to take over the business of Guernsey Annandale Tile Company (1980) Ltd, will become the sixth company of the NP Group.
Mr Gill and Richard Ogier, currently directors of the 1980 company, will become directors of Annandale Ltd, although in the case of Mr Gill only for a period of six months.
Mr Gallienne said that taking on the Annandale business would help to expand the range of products and services that NP can offer and further enable the group to address the increasingly sophisticated needs of all its customers.
‘In the short term we will be looking to extend the range of popular everyday products held by Annandale for the convenience of customers.
‘In the long term, it is a bit too early to be definite but we will be looking to enhance the use of the Annandale site.’
Article posted on 25th January, 2008 - 12.00am
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