Northern Irish KBB furniture manufacturer and supplier Woodlands Kitchens has acquired Dundee-based JTC Furniture Group, backed by investor BGF.

Pictured left to right: Managing director of JTC Gordon Linton, CEO at Woodland NI Connor McCloskey and investor at BGF in Belfast Chris Nixon

Founded in 1987 by Brian McCloskey as a kitchen showroom in Ballymena, Woodlands is now led by his son Connor.

Manufacturing and supplying kitchen, bedroom and bathroom cabinets, Woodlands Kitchens serves national clients, including home improvement chains Wickes, Travis Perkins and distributor PJH, and has a turnover of over £25m turnover, 

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Woodlands Kitchens employs more than 170 staff in its facility in Rasharkin, County Antrim.

JTC is a Scottish manufacturer and supplier of fitted furniture, focused on the social housing and student accommodation markets, and employs over 250 people in the Dundee area.

JTC’s existing senior management team will remain with the newly-combined business, and will continue to lead implementation of its ambitious growth plans.

The combined business will have a turnover over £50m and, according to Woodlands Kitchens, JTC represents a complementary acquisition, allowing the scale of the group to enhance its product range and service levels.

BGF’s Talent Network have also introduced Marcus Moir to the business as non-executive chairman, who brings with him a wealth of industry experience in the home improvement space.

BGF is a growth capital investor which backs entrepreneurs and innovators.

It has completed a multi-million-pound investment in the new Woodland Group for a minority stake in the business, which will be used to fund the acquisition and support future growth.

CEO at Woodland NI Connor McCloskey said: “Woodland has enjoyed strong organic growth in recent years but we have kept one eye on strategic, additive acquisition opportunities.

“The partnership with JTC was a move that made perfect sense in terms of scale, common values, capabilities and level of ambition.

“JTC’s strong presence and longstanding customer base in the social housing, healthcare and student housing sectors, combined with Woodland’s own strengths in the distribution and large retail space, will allow both businesses to share best practice and take a collaborative approach to further growth.

“We look forward to working with the team in Dundee.”

Managing director of JTC, Gordon Linton said: “We have been impressed with Connor, Brian and the wider team’s long-term vision for the business.

“We are convinced the strategic alliance with Woodland, with a proven, supportive backer such as BGF, will strengthen our own proposition and help develop our offering.

“For our team in Dundee, it will be very much business as usual, with a continued focus on providing great service to customers in the range of sectors where we are already a market leader.”

Chris Nixon, investor at BGF in Belfast, added: “Woodland and JTC are both established names in the kitchen furniture industry and by combining the team’s knowledge of the market and complementary customer base we believe there is high potential for growth.

“We are excited to join the Woodland team as a minority investor as they embark on this expansion.”

HNH Group and Tughans LLP advised Woodland NI. Thorntons advised JTC and HNH Group and A&L Goodbody advised BGF.