Author: Tammy Tidmarsh
Head of Marketing, Long Rake Spar
I’m delighted to share that Long Rake Spar has been shortlisted for Supplier of the Year at the 25th Builders’ Merchants News Awards. We’re equally proud that one of our own, Area Sales Manager Andy Maxwell, has been shortlisted for Supplier Account Manager of the Year.
Built around the merchant
For the past 12 months we’ve kept asking one question: what does a builders’ merchant need to sell more decorative aggregate? Much of the answer was found in branches. We completed around 4,800 branch visits, installed 139 new aggregate display stands and supplied 5,560kg of samples, so customers can see and handle the product before they buy.
We have also created a bold new brand identity, rolled out across packaging, bulk bags, literature and point-of-sale, giving every branch a more striking, consistent display.
Since then, several merchants have achieved year-on-year growth in decorative aggregate sales, exactly the kind of result we’re working to deliver.
Stock you can rely on
Great displays only work if the product is there when customers want it. We hold 125,000 tonnes of stock, backed by £8 million of inventory investment. We can produce up to 900,000 tonnes a year, and 17 robotic packing lines keep orders moving.
Making it easier online
Our new website and dedicated Trade Hub have driven a 44% rise in active users on our website and a 69% increase in stockist locator use. We were also the first supplier to go live on Data Yard, and we remain the only decorative aggregate supplier on the platform.
Recognising Andy Maxwell
Andy covers Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland, and brings more than 22 years of experience in the building materials and landscaping industries. His nomination for Supplier Account Manager of the Year was supported by testimonials from his own customers, which says a great deal about the relationships he has built. Andy has said he was humbled that they took the time to write them.
Andy’s shortlisting is a well-deserved recognition of his dedication, expertise and the relationships he builds with our merchant customers. His achievement also reflects the wider
commitment across Long Rake Spar to helping merchants grow. Get to know the people behind our business on our Meet the Team page.
Celebrating 25 years of the awards
The Builders’ Merchants Awards are the longest-running awards in the sector, and this year marks their 25th anniversary. The winners will be revealed at the Park Plaza Westminster, London, on 27 November 2026. Nominations have closed, but you can still book seats and tables through the Builders’ Merchants Awards website. The awards are sponsored by MRA Research (UK).
Thank you to our customers, partners and colleagues, and good luck to all the finalists. If you’d like to talk about growing decorative aggregate sales in your branches, get in touch with our team.
