“To be successful we must focus on enduring customer franchises, with top tier
competitive positions where we choose to compete – we must also focus on where we can
achieve the best financial returns.”
Whilst the construction industry operates in a cyclical manner correlating directly with
economic output, we believe that the long-term drivers for house building and construction
are positive in all of the regions in which Wolseley operates.
We believe that scale advantages such as the Group’s distribution network utilisation
and sourcing activities are key competitive advantages and differentiators in the marketplace.
We have a track record of building strong trading brands in local markets. We believe that
the skills and commitment of our employees are a significant competitive advantage.
Over several years we have invested in large distribution centres, particularly in the US,
which enable us to purchase in bulk from suppliers, to better serve customers by reducing
delivery times, improving fill rates and increasing the availability of products, and to
manage inventory more efficiently.
“To be successful we must focus on enduring customer franchises, with top tier
competitive positions where we choose to compete – we must also focus on where we can
achieve the best financial returns.”
