Independent procurement group IPG has confirmed the appointment of Dean Jepson as its new Managing Director. Jepson is described by the group as a "highly respected industry leader" with a track record in the building materials supply chain sector.
IPG operates as a buying group for independent builders merchants across the UK. The group negotiates purchasing terms and supply agreements on behalf of its member merchants, giving smaller independent businesses access to preferential pricing and product availability that would otherwise be the preserve of national merchant chains.
Leadership of a buying group shapes the supplier relationships, commercial terms, and member services that independent merchants depend on. Appointment of a known figure from within the industry signals continuity rather than a strategic pivot, though the full direction of Jepson's tenure will become clearer through the group's next set of member communications.
For independent merchants and the trades who use them, buying group stability translates directly to product availability and pricing consistency. When buying groups operate effectively, independent merchants can compete on service and local knowledge without being undercut on core product cost.
About IPG
IPG is one of several independent buying groups operating in the UK builders merchant sector. Others include NBG (National Buying Group) and Fortis. These groups collectively represent a significant share of the independent merchant market and serve as an important counterbalance to the buying power of national chains such as Travis Perkins, Jewson, and Buildbase.