For the second year running, Heat Merchants were selected as Overall Plumbers’ Merchant of the Year at the 2019 Plumbing & Heating Awards – fitting recognition for an industry-leading company that has been supplying the heating and plumbing trade in Ireland for more than four decades.
Recognising the cream of Ireland’s plumbing and heating industry, the 2019 Plumbing & Heating Awards black-tie gala ceremony took place in the Citywest Hotel, Saggart, Dublin on Friday, September 13th, where Heat Merchants were named as Overall Plumbers’ Merchant of the Year, retaining the title they scooped in 2018.
Independently judged by an experienced panel of experts and celebrating the excellence which exists throughout the industry, Ireland’s annual Plumbing & Heating Awards honour the achievements of this specialised sector, which is at the very heart of construction in the country.
A wholly Irish-owned company trading as Heat Merchants and Tubs & Tiles, Heat Merchants – Ireland’s largest supplier of heating & plumbing equipment – were worthy winners of the much-coveted Overall Plumbers’ Merchant of the Year accolade. The judges remarked that “despite their size, Heat Merchants are still able to deliver a very personal and professional service, making sure the customer is always satisfied.”
Catering for both domestic and commercial projects, Heat Merchants have been supplying the trade with a comprehensive portfolio of heating, plumbing and renewable energy solutions for over 40 years and in recent years have expanded their offering to provide a range of technical design services including design and specification of heating and plumbing systems, ancillary certification, commissioning, aftersales services installer training and technical support. Heat Merchants also offer training across their range including training on the installation of their air to water heat pumps by Panasonic.
Upon being presented with the Overall Plumbers’ Merchant of the Year award in a room packed with up to 500 of his peers, Alan Hogan, Managing Director of Heat Merchants Group, commented: “We are delighted to have received this award for the second time in a row and I want to congratulate my colleagues on this exceptional achievement and thank all our customers, suppliers and friends for their support and loyalty.”
Regularly recognised at prestigious awards ceremonies, Heat Merchants Group was named as a Deloitte Best Managed Company at another high-profile ceremony in the capital on Sunday, March 3rd, 2019. Chosen for the fourth successive year in the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards Programme, they received the Gold Standard Award, which is allocated to companies which have retained their Best Managed designation for four years in a row.
In May, 2019, Heat Merchants Group were awarded the coveted All-Ireland Business All Star Accreditation as well as the McEniff Trophy for the Best Business In Ireland, which was presented by acclaimed businessman and former All-Ireland winning Donegal senior football manager Brian McEniff and the Vice President of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuiness, at an awards ceremony in Croke Park.
On the same night, Alan Hogan, Managing Director of Heat Merchants Group, was voted 2019 All Star Inspirational Leader. The All-Ireland Business Foundation is a national body which accredits best-in-class Irish businesses as Business All Stars. This All Star accreditation is an independently-verified standard mark for businesses based on rigorous selection criteria, performance, trust and customer centricity.
The MD said he was “very proud of the achievement of each and every team member within the Group. The feedback from the assessment panel was exceptionally complimentary about all parts of the business and is a genuine tribute to a professional and dedicated team.”
Corporate Social Responsibility is at the core of Heat Merchants Group’s business and they are fully committed to continuously improving in this area. Heat Merchants is a member of Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), the national network for sustainability, which has convened over 90 of Ireland’s leading companies to work collaboratively to address social, environmental and economic priorities.
In 2018, Heat Merchants signed up to The Low Carbon Pledge – the first dedicated public commitment generated by Irish business to lead on the transition to a low carbon economy and reduce Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions intensity by 50% by 2030. The Group has committed to making sustainability a central priority to help Ireland transition to a low carbon economy and achieve its international commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement.
On June 12th, 2019, the first Low Carbon report was launched, recording Heat Merchants’ progress and confirming that they are on track with the Low Carbon Pledge’s commitment to reduce their direct carbon emissions. The report revealed that the Pledge signatory companies had seen an overall emission reduction of 42% between the baseline period and 2018, marking significant progress towards achieving the aforementioned 50% decrease in carbon intensity by 2030.
Heat Merchants Group comprises 32 Heat Merchants branches and twelve Tubs & Tiles showrooms strategically located nationwide, supported by a central warehouse and distribution hub based in Athlone. The Group’s business support services and technical design hub are situated in offices in Athlone and Balbriggan.
Through their national network of 32 branches and central distribution hub, Heat Merchants always have an extensive range of stock available, either in the customer’s local branch or for next day collection or delivery to ensure faster, more efficient customer service. Their focus on efficiency in all operations has resulted in a strong business and allows them to offer the best value and service in the industry. Furthermore, the team at Heat Merchants are committed to continuously developing both their product range and the expertise provided.
Heat Merchants boast over 40 years’ experience supplying installers with the latest products and innovative technology from leading international heating and plumbing brands. They supply a comprehensive range of heating controls, including smart heating controls.
They also design and supply underfloor heating systems and in recent years have added Panasonic heating and cooling air conditioning solutions to their product portfolio. The range of products is supported by expertise at their in-branch trade counters and a technical design and specification service.
As their latest success at Ireland’s Plumbing & Heating Awards suggests, Heat Merchants are on a hot streak right now as they continue to set the pace at the forefront of the plumbing, heating and renewable energy supplies market!
Heat Merchants Group,
Moydrum Road,
Athlone,
County Westmeath,
N37 W213.
Tel: 090 6442306
Web: www.heatmerchants.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, April 2020, Vol 6 No 2
