Cowal – with branches in Balloch, Rothesay, Dunoon, Dalry, and East Kilbride – was named Merchant of the Year at the Builders Merchants Awards online award ceremony.

The award is a tribute to the way in which Cowal runs its business, trading successfully and safely through the pandemic to support its customers and the local community. The judges described Cowal as “a very well-run independent builder’s merchant that takes its role in the community, its customers’ businesses, and its staff’s well-being very seriously and has succeeded as a result.”

Cowal fought off competition from merchants from across the UK to bring the award to Scotland for the first time. Founded in 1982 by the current MD’s father as a single branch, to service the family construction business, Cowal has grown steadily since and several generations of the Shaw family still work in the business today.

“Cowal is the kind of business that builds relationships. Family values and excellent customer service lie at the heart of everything the business does,” said Cowal’s MD Stewart Shaw. “We are very proud that the way we do business has been recognised in these important national awards. It’s testimony to the whole team, at every branch, and how hard they have worked and continue to work.”

Cowal was also praised by the judges for its support of the building materials industry as a whole. The company is an active member of the Builders Merchants Federation, The National Merchant Buying Society and buying group NBG.