New regional partner

Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell visits Pilkington’s first regional partner in Bristol.

Today, I am at Mckenzie Glass in Bristol to witness the official opening of Pilkington’s first regional partner.

Mackenzie Glass acquired Pilkington Bristol from NSG on December 1, 2017. In addition to the purchase of stock and the 37,000ft2 purpose-built site on the southern side of the city, the deal included the transfer of 46 members of staff.

As part of the agreement Mackenzie Glass also became Pilkington’s first regional partner.

Mackenzie Glass started business in Bournemouth in 1954, later moving to Exeter. It was acquired by Pilkington in the mid-1980, regaining its independence in the 1990s through a management buy-out by Jim Franklin, Pilkington’s then MD in the south west, ahead of acquisition by Cornwall Glass in 2013.

Mackenzie Glass was reformed in November 2017 by former Cornwall Glass directors and its joint-managing directors, Mark Herbert, Matt Prowse and Mackenzie shareholder Mark Mitchell, chairman Cornwall Glass.

Although it will sit as part of the wider Cornwall Glass Group of businesses, it is operated as a standalone business and as its own profit and loss centre.

The merchanting business supplied more than one million square metres of flat glass last year, throughout south Wales, the south west, southern England and central southern regions. It also offers toughening, cutting and polishing.

In addition to its primary offer, as an independent glass merchant Mackenzie Glass also offers products from other leading manufacturers where demand cannot be met from within Pilkington’s product range.

Although an independent glass merchanting business, Mackenzie Glass is also Pilkington’s first regional partner. This gives it a similar status to Pilkington’s own glass merchanting businesses, with access to its full product range and rapid delivery service.

Today, I’ll be learning about the benefits customers can expect from this new relationship, which will be reported in Glass Times.

Meanwhile, I hope to post a few pictures on Twitter, which you can view on either @nathanbushell or @glasstimes.