MKM Building Supplies will open its 140th branch in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, on 2 March 2026, creating more than 16 local jobs and bringing decades of merchanting expertise back to the area.
The branch marks a return to the independent, community-focused values that local builders have long associated with family-run merchants.
Family-led branch returns decades of experience
The new branch will be led by Branch Directors Dave Toseland and Jake Toseland, an uncle-and-nephew duo whose family has been connected to builders’ merchants in the area for more than 50 years. Dave’s father, Len Toseland, founded Toseland’s Building Supplies in Rushden in 1975, which was acquired in 2004 after decades of service to the local trade.
“I’ve lived in the area all my 56 years. The people here are loyal, hard-working and genuinely pleased to see others succeed. Our family ran an independent merchant locally for 30 years, so the chance to do that again – and to do it with family – is something we’re incredibly proud of,” Dave said.
Jake Toseland added: “I was born here, went to school here and most of my family still live locally, so I’ve always been tied to the area. Opening MKM Wellingborough feels like bringing something back that the area has been missing. Independent merchants used to be everywhere locally, now they’re largely gone. We think bringing that model back is a real positive for the community.”
Branch designed around local trade needs
Located on Meadow Close, Finedon Road, the Wellingborough branch will offer building materials, timber, plumbing and heating, and kitchens and bathrooms under one roof. Timber and carcassing products will be stored in a covered warehouse to maintain quality.
“We’ve worked in this area for over 50 years between us, so we know what local trades use day in, day out. Landscaping, timber, fencing and heavyside will be big categories here. The difference with MKM is we can shape our stock, pricing and transport around what our customers actually need,” Dave said.
The branch will initially create 16 jobs, with further recruitment planned as it grows. Collectively, the team has more than 350 years of merchanting experience, covering plumbing and heating, timber, landscaping and heavyside, with kitchen specialists to follow.
Emphasis on service and delivery
Restoring high service standards is a priority for the branch. Local trades have cited issues with slow collections, unreliable deliveries and limited experienced staff.
MKM Wellingborough will offer free local delivery, including same-day options where possible, using 18-tonne and 26-tonne HGV crane-offload vehicles and a 3.5-tonne curtain-sided vehicle for smaller or restricted-access sites. Deliveries will run Monday to Friday, with Saturday morning options.
“The overall service locally seems to be lacking, especially around delivery reliability and speed of collections. Our team will understand just how important our customers are and prioritise them above everything else. The experience we’ve got in branch will be hard to match, and MKM gives us the freedom to run the business in a way that genuinely suits our customers,” Jake said.
“We’ll lead from the front. Our team will always invite customers in for a coffee and a chat. A lot of trades work alone all day, and sometimes a hot drink and five minutes talking a job through makes all the difference,” Dave added.
Community engagement and local support
The Toseland family has a long history in local merchanting, and the new branch will continue this tradition with sponsorship of local sports, apprenticeship opportunities, and broader community support.
“Being from the area, we want to see people succeed. Our goal is simple – service the local community properly, go back to our independent roots and help make life easier for the trades and homeowners we work with every day,” Jake said.
The Wellingborough branch demonstrates a return to family-led, independent values in builders’ merchanting while combining them with the scale and resources of a national network.
