I never realised until.......

[steve_cronin]

..I started looking around that there is one company (or Group) that supplies a huge proportion of the chandlery in this country.

It's name?

Mark Dowland Marine and/or The Burden Group.

Should we be concerned?

Steve Cronin

 

[VicMallows]

If that's the case, I congratulate him!. He was a small-time player when I came across him at LBS about 12 years ago.

Vic

 

[Sui Generis]

I've met up with him socially for lots of years and he's great fun but more importantly human and a family man. No worries my friend.

 

[BobE]

Dunno about the Burden group who I presume took him over... I've known him off and on for years and he's a really nice guy and knows his sailing too... Ex crew on Sunmaid V and Morning Cloud. As I remember his folks kept a good pub/ eaterie in Poole and Mark supposedly went out and caught the fish for the evening meals ?? I'd trust him with my .......
Just my 2d worth Cheers Bob E..

 

[BrendanS]

If you have the info, then probably good to share it. Which chandleries does he supply. The price ranges are so varied, that I'd be suprised if he supplies more than 15% of them?

 

[steve_cronin]

In Hampshire alone......

In Hampshire alone:-

Sea Teach Ltd

Pepe Boatyard Ltd

Datayacht

Express Cruisers

Nick Cox Yacht Chandler Limited

Yachtmail Co Ltd

Marine Super Store

Aladdins Cave Chandlery Ltd

Capital Sailing

Seascape Marine Ltd

Shoreline Yachtsmen Ltd

Southampton Calor Gas Centre

Shamrock Chandlery

Chris Hornsey Chandlery

Langstone Yachting Ltd

are described as “dealers”

Plus 18 other outlets in that county in the leisure & caravan supplies world.

Gael Force and Mailspeed Marine are also notable listings. For a complete national list see:- Find a Dealer

Not suggesting anything sinister but are near monopolies a good thing? When you flip through a selection of chandlery catalogues is it any wonder that you're looking at the same items in a lot of cases, maybe with the exception of Compass (investigation incomplete as yet) . I have been or am currently a customer of many of the above companies but hold no particular brief for any. The above is just information that turned up whilst I was doing something else last evening.

Steve Cronin

 

[whisper]

Re: In Hampshire alone......

The fact that he supplies most retailers isn't really surprising is it ? If he has a decent sales organisation then so he should.
When I was a humble brickmaker we supplied nearly all brick factors that there were in the UK. However, so did an awful lot of others which meant that there was nothing like a monopoly situation present.
OR have I misunderstood your fears ?