Mark Vitow, the independent distributor and manufacturer of plumbing, heating and bathroom supplies, has announced the formation of a strategic partnership with Siroflex for the exclusive supply of the OB1 range of multi-surface construction adhesive and sealant products to its network of independent UK plumbing and heating merchants.

Mark Vitow Ltd has been a supplier of plumbing and allied products for more than three decades, offering next day delivery on a vast array of leading brands. The company supplies more than 2,500 independent merchant branches, and has built up a core of exclusive product ranges which offer affordable quality, easy installation and strong reputations within the trade. It has achieved in excess of 100% growth in sales over the past four years and is set to achieve the same again in the coming four years.

OB1 – OB stands for Original and Best – is a global hybrid polymer formulation brand created in the Netherlands and launched in 2020.

Installer was invited to attend the recent Mark Vitow and OB1 partnership event in Warwickshire for an exclusive insight into the background behind the new alliance.

Mark Vitow’s Commercial Director, James Cranham, explains the ethos behind the company: “Mark Vitow are known as market makers rather than market takers, growing brands from scratch where innovation grows in partnership.” Understanding the importance of considerations such as next day delivery and sensible minimum order values is key to delivering consistency of supply. This, coupled with technical support and practical elements such as demo mornings, means that installers will have access not only to some striking new products, but also expert advice about them.

Marty McAleenan, OB1’s Business Development Manager, echoes these sentiments – pointing to this new partnership as an effective way to address inconsistency of product supply: “Since the launch of OB1 in January 2020 it has become the fastest growing hybrid brand in the UK. We have decided to enhance and focus our approach to the independent plumbing and heating sector. Mark Vitow Ltd are a superb business – widely recognised, highly regarded, progressive and ambitious – and we are thrilled to be opening this new chapter with them by our side.”

Both companies see this development as a new means of delivering the best products to market in the best way, pooling the resources of manufacturer and distributor to create a symbiotic relationship. “The core of the whole thing is the two organisations working as one,” say James. And as Marty points out: “Service is absolutely the bottom line.”

As a part of the new arrangement, Mark Vitow will have access to OB1 Diamond, which Marty describes as “an absolutely ground-breaking clear hybrid system”. The product is benchmarked across Europe, and Marty states that there’s “no other clear hybrid system with this level of performance and stability”.

For the supply chain, the partnership could set a new benchmark for how distributors are viewed: “We at Mark Vitow champion strategic distribution partnerships, and we have a long-standing track record of building and growing exclusive brands into the plumbing and heating sector. The OB1-Mark Vitow partnership is both innovative and forward-thinking, with a focused strategy to deliver exceptional brand growth, whilst delivering a market-leading proposition to the customer.”

OB1 now joins the portfolio of best-selling brands distributed exclusively by Mark Vitow, including installer favourite Black Swan PVC Cement.

Mark Vitow and OB1 at InstallerSHOW 2023
Mark Vitow is returning to InstallerSHOW (NEC, 27-29 June) in a big way – with double the stand space it had in 2022. To help spread the message of the partnership, there will be OB1 demos taking place – and technical support will be on hand to deal with any questions visitors may have. Head to stand H70 to find out more about the partnership that Marty McAleenan says is “sealing the future of supply and service into the plumbing and heating market”.