Over the past year, Consolidated Timber Holdings (CTH) has been quietly but purposefully reshaping its operations to better support customers across the UK timber supply chain. In an industry facing prolonged economic pressure, volatile demand, and margin compression, CTH’s approach has centred on people, process, and practical change rather than dramatic reinvention.
Leading this evolution is Richard Martin, who joined CTH in May 2024 and assumed the role of CEO in January 2025. His mandate followed a significant consolidation phase that unified several businesses into two core operations: Falcon Timber, the group’s distribution arm, and Hoffman Triesse, its manufacturing business. With the structural foundations now in place, the focus has shifted firmly towards commercial alignment and customer relevance.
Rather than viewing the timber market as a single audience, CTH has reorganised its business around two distinct customer segments: timber merchants and joinery/manufacturing customers. Each faces different challenges, from stock turnover and compliance requirements to precision specifications and production efficiency. Dedicated sales teams now focus on one segment each, enabling deeper understanding, more informed conversations, and tailored solutions.
This shift has also revealed underutilised strengths within the group. Over time, CTH recognised that many customers were unaware of the full breadth of its capabilities, leading them to source products from multiple suppliers. By equipping its teams with a holistic view of the group’s offering, CTH has moved away from transactional sales toward a more consultative, partnership-driven model.
Logistics and service delivery have been another key area of focus. With eight Falcon Timber distribution sites across the UK and manufacturing facilities in Essex and Yorkshire, CTH has restructured its logistics strategy to operate as a single national network. A centrally managed fleet of 34 trucks now supports the entire estate, significantly improving on-time, in-full delivery performance and offering customers greater flexibility and reliability.
Product strategy has also evolved in line with sector-specific needs. For merchant customers, CTH is developing differentiated, compliant solutions such as certified fire-rated door blanks and door cores, helping merchants build stronger, higher-value ranges. For joinery and manufacturing clients, the emphasis is on quality, consistency, and specification accuracy—supported by close collaboration and on-site engagement to understand production processes in detail.
Investment has underpinned these changes. Over £1 million has been directed toward fire door testing, upgraded extraction systems at Triesse, and the launch of a Door Technical Centre of Excellence near Chester. This facility strengthens CTH’s position in certification, compliance, and technical support—critical areas for both merchants and manufacturers navigating evolving regulations.
CTH now operates three manufacturing sites, eight distribution centres, and approximately 700,000 square feet of storage, supported by a workforce of around 300 people. Industry recognition has followed, including being named Panel Trader of the Year at the 2025 Timber Trades Journal Awards.
People development remains central to the strategy, with ongoing investment in training, mentoring, and leadership development. While market conditions across the UK timber and construction sectors remain challenging heading into 2026, CTH’s leadership is focused on controlling what it can: service quality, customer alignment, and value creation.
As the timber industry awaits broader recovery, Consolidated Timber Holdings is positioning itself not just to endure, but to emerge stronger—more connected to its customers, more confident in its capabilities, and better equipped to support the future of the UK timber supply chain.
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