Family-owned. Built from the ground up.

Big Bear Group is a family-owned group of businesses based in Hertfordshire, owned and run by two brothers.

Our businesses span builders’ and plumbers’ merchanting, bathroom retail, commercial property, self-storage and equestrian services. While the group has grown, we remain hands-on business owners with a long-term commitment to the businesses we run.

Our story

Our journey began in 2011 when we started Nationwide Supplies from a small shipping container at the bottom of a garden belonging to one of us. We had just a few thousand pounds’ worth of stock and a leaflet to post to potential customers.

From those modest beginnings, we built Nationwide Supplies Buntingford Limited into an established builders’ and plumbers’ merchant serving the South East, with annual revenues of approximately £15 million. It is now the largest trading company within Big Bear Group.

That experience continues to shape how we work. We understand the commitment, hard work and personal investment involved in building a business, because we have done it ourselves.

Our approach

We take a long-term approach to ownership, investing in our businesses and helping them develop for the future.

Over the years, we have built an experienced management team, supported by dedicated finance, sales and marketing functions. This gives our businesses access to the expertise, infrastructure and practical support they need to grow.

When a business joins the group, we look to understand what has made it successful and build on those strengths. We bring our experience as owners and operators, alongside the resources of the wider group.

Growing the group

We are continuing to expand Big Bear Group through the acquisition of established, successful businesses.

We are open-minded about sectors and interested in sound businesses where we believe we can add value over the longer term. We typically consider businesses with at least five years of trading history and annual turnover above £3 million.

We are not an investment fund or intermediary. We acquire businesses ourselves as part of our family-owned group, with the intention of investing in and developing them for the future.

Let’s talk

We understand that selling a business you have spent years building is a significant and personal decision.

If a sale might form part of your plans, either now or further ahead, we would welcome a conversation. You will speak directly with us, and any initial discussion will be informal, confidential and without obligation.

Get in touch