In the mid-1960s, Peter Hopkinson set up his own business, Peter J Hopkinson Plumbing Factors, distributing plumbing supplies to retailers. Over the next 15 years he developed the business, which became known as the PJH Group, into a major player in the market, before selling the business in 1978 to Lonro plc.

In 1985, having seen their father build up one successful plumbing supplies business, Peter’s son Nick, who had been a branch manager in the PJH Group, and his other son Chris, a former stockbroker in the City, decided to start all over again. They set up Mark Two, with their father as chairman.

Mark Two started with 17 staff and two vans, distributing branded kitchen and bathroom supplies to independent retailers. At first, joint managing directors Chris and Nick focused on growing the business in the independent retail market, but as the DIY market as a whole increased rapidly, Chris and Nick seized the opportunity to expand. They started off supplying the Focus chain of DIY superstores, and their fast, efficient and professional distribution service soon attracted enquiries from other major DIY retailers.