Stocking the company’s full range of timber products and wood-based panels, as well as a full range of other building supplies, the 20,000ft2 factory cost £1m to set up and holds £400,000 of stock.
Mr Simms said that, despite only having a limited number of trading day under its belt, the facility had seen a “steady flow of people”, with 80% coming from trade customers and including local rivals eager to check out the latest competition.
The site, which opened on May 1, is the company’s first foray into Peterborough and is part of a five-year acquisition and branch opening scheme that will see Ridgeons spread its operations further to the west in the coming months, with the company noting that two or three further sites are in the pipeline.
The opening of the Peterborough site has accompanied another new branch at Pampisford, south of Cambridge, which “took off like a train” according to Mr Simms.
This 12,000ft2 collection branch cost £500,000 to set up and stocks £300,000 of goods, including timber, sheet materials and other building supplies, as well as ironmongery and hand and power tools.
