Premier Forest Products CEO Terry Edgell has reflected on the company’s stunning win in the TTJ Timber Trader of the Year 2025 in last month’s TTJ Awards, admitting the triumph was “ecstatic”.
Premier CEO Terry Edgell collected the trophy at the Awards on September 19 in front of more than 300 assembled guests from across the wood industries at the Hilton London Bankside. The company also collected the Timber Garden Product Supplier of the Year Award and had been shortlisted for three others – softwood, hardwood and panel products.
The TTJ Timber Trader of the Year is sponsored by Timber Development UK, while Awards headline sponsor was Epicor.
Reflecting on the win and what it meant for the Wales-based company – which has expanded greatly over recent years and comprises importing., distribution, merchanting and processing operations – Mr Edgell summed up his thoughts.
“The TTJ Awards was such an ecstatic day for all at premier Forest Products, being finalists in all four of the big categories was a great boost pre awards for the team, but picking up not just the Timber Garden Product Supplier of the year award but the Overall Timber Trader of the Year award was another level of excitement for the team,” he said.
“The award was the culmination of 32 years of trading, hard work, and evolution to becoming probably the most comprehensive suppliers of timber products and timber services in the UK.
“As we reflect on our wins, we remember gaining the 1998 Panels Trader of the Year in the early years of the awards and in 2016 winning the judged environmental award for our work on legal and sustainable chains of supply and custody in China.
“Over the years Premier have been finalists in one or more of the major categories at every single award ceremony, but against stiff competition always seemed to be the bridesmaid and not the bride.
“The win during one of the most challenging market conditions since the credit crunch years has given a real lift to the whole team at Premier and its subsidiary companies; it’s a win we share with our 400 staff, our thousands of customers, and hundreds of valued suppliers; all of which make being one of the industry’s leading timber groups possible.
“On behalf of us all, thank you TTJ and thank you to all those individuals that took the time to vote for us; it really is appreciated.”
The TTJ Awards has been running since 1997, and comprise voted and judged categories, with the former seeing timber-buying customers voted for their best performing suppliers across a range of product categories. Customers can also rate suppliers according to customer service, deliveries, product quality, product range and value for money. The online voting takes place between March and May annually.
The judged categories cover marketing, environmental achievement, innovation, career development and timber merchanting development.
The TTJ Awards Review will appear in the November/December issue of TTJ out soon.
