The future of building materials retailer CMO Group and its subsidiary Total Tiles have been secured following sales of the businesses out of administration.
Chris Pole and Ryan Grant from Interpath were appointed joint administrators to CMO Group Limited, Total Tiles Limited, CMOStores.com Limited and CMOStores Group Limited on 6 June 2025.
Founded in 2008 as Construction Materials Online, CMO Group is the UK’s largest online-only retailer of building materials, operating out of multiple sites across Ipswich, Darlington and Plymouth. In 2020, it acquired Total Tiles Limited, the specialist tile retailer.
The Group had experienced difficult market conditions over recent years as inflationary pressures and falling disposable incomes negatively impacted the Company’s turnover and broader financial performance. In addition, the Group had experienced supply and demand challenges with increasing cost bases and volatile consumer demand.
In response, the directors sought to explore the investment options available to them, but when it became clear that a solvent outcome was not possible, the directors took steps to seek the appointment of administrators.
Immediately following their appointment, the joint administrators concluded four separate transactions, securing the future of the businesses.
The business and certain assets of CMO Group Limited, CMOStores.com Limited and CMOStores Group Limited were sold to CMO Superstores Limited, a trading subsidiary of the Lords Group Trading PLC. As part of the transaction, over 120 members of staff have transferred to the purchaser.
Separately, the business and assets of Total Tiles Limited were sold to an undisclosed purchaser, safeguarding the jobs of all 27 staff members.
Chris Pole, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “CMO Group had grown to become the UK’s largest online-only retailer of building materials and products but, in common with other companies across the building, construction and home improvement ecosystem, had been battling headwinds including rising costs and fragile consumer confidence which ultimately impacted trading performance.
“We are pleased to have achieved this outcome which allows the Group’s operations to continue under new ownership and which safeguards employment for over 150 staff. We would like to thank all of the key stakeholders, including Lords Group, as well as CMO Group’s management, for their support in getting these transactions over the line.”
