Company History

1931: Ernest Davies is founder of Llandilo Builders Supplies, previously the Llandilo Saw Mill. The business converted logs to timber and supplied coal from Station Road, Llandeilo.

1947: Mr L Michel Davies joins the company at the age of 17 after his father's sudden death. He is appointed Managing Director 6 years later.

1965: the name of the company is changed to Llandeilo Builders Suppliers Limited, reflecting the name of the town.

1984: Mark Davies joins the company, becoming the third-generation Managing Director 6 years later.

1986 - 2001: LBS becomes a multi-branch business, opening a second site in Ammanford. This is soon followed by a branch in Ystradgynlais, the LBS Home and Garden Centre, Carmarthen, Llanelli and Port Talbot.

2002 - the business buys Ernie Hughes Coal Merchant to now own the whole of Station Road

2003: Llandeilo Builders Supplies relaunches and becomes "LBS Builders Merchants".

2004: Dai Thomas, having joined the company as a Summer Assistant in 1986, is appointed Operations Director.

2006: A new flagship branch in Pembroke Dock is opened, followed by Swansea. LBS now consists of 10 branches throughout South West Wales.

2008: The Global Financial Crisis hit, and for the first time ever, branches record weaker sales than the previous year. LBS continues its focus on retaining key staff, maintaining stock levels and vehicles on the road, no redundancies.

2008 - 2010: LBS looks to expand further, opening branches in Cardigan followed by Neath and Casey's Roofing, Swansea.

2011: LBS turns 80-years old with a number of celebrations with customers, staff and suppliers. Maesteg is also opened and becomes branch number 14.

2012: LBSBM Online is launched with the aim of targeting the DIY and trade market outside the current LBS branch network.

2013: after many years of selling plumbing and heating materials, LBS creates "Total Plumbing", its own dedicated, specialist Plumbers Merchant.

2013 - 2014: dedicated Total Plumbing branches are opened in Port Talbot, Swansea, Cardiff and Pembroke Dock and implants in Llanelli and Ammanford - we're up to 6no.

2015: LBS undertakes a major project opening its furthest branch east in Aberdare, complete with a Total Plumbing and Kitchen & Bathroom showroom.

2016: LBS completes its largest acquisition in its history and purchases Talbot Timber Ltd: three builders' merchant branches - to be rebranded as LBS, a Truss & Timber Engineering business and Timber and Plywood distribution business, all based in Pembrokeshire.

2017 - 2019: expansion continues in East Wales, with a second Total Plumbing outlet in Cardiff and the acquisition of a builders' merchant in Llantrisant.

2018: the fourth-generation of the family, Ben and Rachel Davies, are appointed LBS Board Directors. LBS is the largest independent merchant in South Wales.

2018: LBS is awarded UK "Best Independent Builders' Merchant" for the fifth time in seven years.

2019: the business purchases a site in Barry, with plans to open a flagship branch - and its 28th outlet - close to Cardiff.

2019: after 88 years in Llandeilo, LBS moves its Head Office to a dedicated site in Ammanford, aiming to provide a modern, open workspace and allowing further growth and expansion of its centralised resources.