Why This Matters to Distributors: UK flooring distributor Likewise Group has raised approximately £32.5 million ($44.2 million) as it expands its distribution infrastructure and positions the company for additional growth. The strategy includes a new 60,000-square-foot distribution hub in Corby and is part of a broader effort to build a network capable of supporting approximately £300 million ($408 million) in annual sales.
UK flooring distributor Likewise Group has raised approximately £32.5 million ($44.2 million) as it expands its distribution network and builds capacity for a significantly larger business.
The Birmingham, England-based distributor raised the capital through a combination of share placements, subscriptions, and a retail share offering. The retail portion raised approximately £4 million ($5.4 million) after Likewise increased the offering from an initial £2 million ($2.7 million).
Shareholders approved the remaining portion of the fundraising Aug. 14, and 30.5 million additional shares were scheduled to begin trading Aug. 17 on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market.
The capital raise comes as Likewise adds physical distribution capacity to support continued sales growth.
The company has exchanged contracts to acquire a 60,000-square-foot high-bay distribution facility in Corby, England. The total acquisition cost, including stamp duty, is approximately £9.5 million ($12.9 million), with completion expected Aug. 21.
The facility is expected to become the fifth major distribution hub for Likewise Floors and expand the distributor’s ability to serve customers across the UK.
The Corby investment is part of a broader plan to build distribution and processing infrastructure capable of supporting approximately £300 million ($408 million) in annual group sales, above Likewise’s current revenue.
Likewise is building distribution capacity ahead of sales
The Corby facility is the latest step in a wider expansion of Likewise’s UK logistics network.
The distributor has invested in warehouse, cutting and processing capacity as it seeks to capture a larger share of the UK flooring market.
Likewise has previously added logistics capacity in Plymouth and expanded cutting and processing operations in Glasgow and Derby. It has also developed Newport into a distribution hub and added capacity in Leeds.
The strategy is designed to put inventory and processing capabilities closer to independent flooring retailers and contractors while increasing the amount of volume the network can handle.
That infrastructure is being built ahead of the company’s current sales.
Likewise reported 2025 revenue of approximately £163.1 million ($221.8 million), up 9% from £149.8 million ($203.7 million) in 2024.
Underlying profit before tax increased 56% to approximately £3.1 million ($4.2 million) from £2 million ($2.7 million).
Sales accelerated further in 2026.
Revenue increased 15% during the first three months of the year, and the company said similar momentum continued in April. By July 20, year-to-date revenue was running 17.8% above the prior year.
The performance is giving Likewise reason to add distribution capacity before its existing network reaches its longer-term sales target.
Distribution is central to the growth strategy
Likewise operates a wholesale flooring distribution business serving independent flooring retailers and contractors across the UK. The company says it now has 12 locations providing nationwide geographic coverage.
Its products include carpet, residential vinyl, luxury vinyl tile, laminate, underlay, and artificial grass.
Flooring distribution places particular demands on the physical network. Distributors must hold large amounts of inventory, process and cut flooring to customer specifications and provide frequent deliveries to independent retailers and contractors.
That makes warehouse location, processing capacity, and inventory availability central to Likewise’s expansion strategy.
The company has also been expanding its sales organization alongside its physical infrastructure, seeking to put more volume through the network as additional capacity comes online.
Likewise, it has said its objective since its formation has been to build a meaningful UK flooring distribution business and capture at least 10% of a UK flooring market it estimates at £2 billion ($2.72 billion).
The company was formed in 2018 and expanded through acquisitions before moving to the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market in 2021. It acquired Valley Wholesale Carpets in January 2022.
Likewise now describes its business as focused primarily on organic growth from its existing locations.
Fundraising leaves room for further expansion
Not all the £32.5 million ($44.2 million) raised is earmarked for the Corby facility.
Likewise said the proceeds will also strengthen its balance sheet, cover transaction costs, and provide additional flexibility to pursue its growth strategy, including potential acquisitions.
The company also arranged approximately £9 million ($12.2 million) of additional financing from NatWest associated with the Corby transaction. That includes a £7.2 million ($9.8 million) commercial mortgage facility and a £1.8 million ($2.4 million) value-added tax bridging facility, subject to final documentation.
The additional capital gives Likewise more flexibility to invest in both organic expansion and potential acquisitions as it builds its national distribution platform.
The strategy is increasingly centered on scale.
Likewise generated approximately £163.1 million ($221.8 million) in revenue last year. It is now developing infrastructure intended to support approximately £300 million ($408 million) in annual sales.
That leaves a gap of £137 million ($186.3 million) between its 2025 revenue and the amount of business its planned infrastructure is intended to support.
Closing that gap will require continued organic growth, market-share gains, and potentially additional acquisitions.
Likewise’s recent performance suggests the company is already putting more volume through the network. Year-to-date revenue was up 17.8% as of July 20.
The Corby investment shows the next phase of the strategy: Rather than waiting for its existing network to reach capacity, Likewise is adding warehouse and processing infrastructure ahead of expected growth.
For the distributor, the challenge now is to generate enough additional business to fill it.
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