Glennon Brothers has announced the acquisition of the Hereford-based Pontrilas Group, a deal that adds £120m of turnover to the business and represents a significant step in the group’s ongoing expansion across the UK and Ireland timber markets.
The acquisition brings one of the UK’s best-known independent timber processing and packaging businesses into the Glennon Brothers portfolio. Founded in 1947 by the Hickman family, the Pontrilas Group has developed over several decades into a major operator within the sector. The business is strategically located on the Welsh border and operates a sawmill with an annual sawn capacity believed to be approximately 200,000m³.
Pontrilas is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading independent sawmill and packaging businesses. Its Hereford mill is described as the largest timber processing mill in England and Wales, underlining both the scale of its operation and its importance within the domestic timber supply chain. The business employs more than 530 people and is led by an experienced, long-serving management team, with turnover reported at £120m.
For Glennon Brothers, the acquisition marks a major addition in terms of production capability, geographic reach and workforce. The group’s history dates back to 1913, and the purchase of Pontrilas represents a notable milestone in that long-standing development, adding substantial capacity while reinforcing the company’s existing operations across the UK and Ireland.
Commenting on the announcement, Glennon Brothers joint Managing Director Mike Glennon said:
“We are delighted to welcome the Pontrilas Group into the Glennon Brothers family.”
He went on to describe the acquisition as an important moment in the company’s history, adding:
“This is a significant milestone in Glennon Brothers history, which dates back to 1913. This provides our customers with an enhanced product and service offering, as well as increased overall production capacity for the future. This acquisition allows us to continue fulfilling our commitment to our customers of offering a one-stop shop solution for sawn softwood across the UK and Ireland”.
The emphasis on customer service, scale and continuity was echoed by fellow Joint Managing Director Pat Glennon, who highlighted the opportunity created by bringing Pontrilas into the group.
“The opportunity to add value to our established supply chain and core business is extremely exciting,” he said.
He added:
“By adding Pontrilas to our existing business, it further enhances our capability to operate fully from forest to front door”.
The acquisition strengthens Glennon Brothers’ end-to-end offering, combining established processing capacity with a broader production footprint. Pontrilas’ position as a leading independent sawmill and packaging business makes it a natural fit within the Glennon Brothers group, aligning with its focus on integrated operations and customer service.
The scale of the Pontrilas site, along with its experienced workforce and long-standing management team, brings continuity as well as additional capability to the enlarged business. Its location on the Welsh border also provides strategic advantages, supporting supply-chain efficiency while reinforcing Glennon Brothers’ presence across England and Wales.
From the Pontrilas side, the transaction marks a significant moment for a family business with a history stretching back nearly eight decades. Chairman Jeremy Hickman said that he and the Hickman family were pleased to wish Glennon Brothers and the Pontrilas Group every success in the future, reflecting the transition of ownership while acknowledging the legacy of the business.
Pontrilas Chief Executive Jonathan Poynton also welcomed the acquisition, highlighting the opportunities ahead for the combined operation.
“The team at Pontrilas are delighted to be joining the Glennon Brothers family of companies, and we look forward to exciting times ahead for the enlarged business”.
The deal brings together two long-established names within the timber sector, each with deep roots and a focus on processing capability, service delivery and supply-chain integration. With Pontrilas now part of the Glennon Brothers group, the combined business increases its processing footprint across England and Wales while reinforcing its broader UK and Ireland presence.
For customers, the acquisition is positioned as a means of enhancing product availability, service levels and overall production capacity. For Glennon Brothers, it represents a further step in building scale while maintaining a commitment to a fully integrated supply chain, operating from forest through to finished product delivery.
As the enlarged business moves forward, the addition of Pontrilas adds both capacity and experience, strengthening Glennon Brothers’ position in the sawn softwood market and marking another milestone in the company’s development since its founding more than a century ago.
