Management buyout completed at surface materials supplier

Ownership of CDUK, a Leeds-based supplier of surface materials and complementary products, has changed hands.

Managing director Andy Noble has acquired the business from Gary Baker.

Founded over 40 years ago by Geoff Baker and business partner Toni Hibbert, CDUK is the exclusive distributor of Corian® Solid Surface in the UK and Ireland.

Business ownership was later passed to Geoff’s son Gary, who joined the CDUK family in 2006. Geoff held the role of chairman until he died in 2021.

Noble, joined CDUK as national sales manager in April 2013 and was appointed managing director in 2020. He has over 17 years’ experience working in the surface industry.

Under his direction, CDUK has continued to expand, resulting in a series of exclusive partnerships with brands including PaperStone®, The 1810 Company and, more recently, The Good Plastic Company, as well as a stronger relationship with DuPont as the sole distributor of Corian® Solid Surface in the UK and Ireland.

Gary Baker said: “Since CDUK was founded nearly 45 years ago by my father and Toni Hibbert, we’ve prided ourselves on offering great service to our customers as well as being at the centre of the solid surface industry through distributing Corian®.

“I am proud to be handing on the business to Andy with whom I have worked closely now for over 10 years.

“It was really important to me to have a succession plan involving people who understand where CDUK has come from and who will maintain the values we have always held dear.”

CDUK secured a £3m finance facility from Lloyds Bank which was implemented as part of the management buyout.

Andrew Gaunt, business development director at Lloyds Bank, said: “We were incredibly pleased to support Andy with the management buyout of the business, as we have no doubts he will be able to take it to the next stage of its growth journey.

“Over the last couple of months, we have seen growing confidence from Yorkshire businesses with an emphasis on growth and expansion, so we are looking forward to standing alongside CDUK as it enters the next phase of its development.”

Noble said: “I’m incredibly proud and lucky to have been given the unique opportunity to continue the market leading work established by Gary and his father Mr Baker over the last 44 years.

“We work with some excellent supply partners, not least Corian® Solid Surface with whom we have a long-lasting and fruitful partnership, as well as some world class designers, fabricators and manufacturers who turn our surfaces into the outstanding applications and projects.

“Added to that is an enthusiastic, forward-thinking team at CDUK who I thoroughly enjoy working with. Having worked with them for 10 years, taking ownership of the company is a great opportunity.”

John Neill, country sales leader Corian® Solid Surface, UK & Ireland, added: “We wish all the very best to Andy and the team as they transition ownership and look to go from strength-to- strength, building on our established history and positioned to grow with future developments in the market.”