Norcros has begun the process of selling its South African business as it looks to focus more clearly on the UK and European bathroom products markets.
The Wilmslow-based group said Norcros South Africa is now being marketed for sale. The business operates separately from the rest of the group and includes TAL, Tile Africa and House of Plumbing. TAL manufactures tile adhesives, Tile Africa is a national tile and bathroom retailer, and House of Plumbing is a regional plumbing merchanting business.
The South African operation remains profitable. In its latest financial year, it reported revenue of £99.4m and underlying operating profit of £6.7m before the allocation of central cost overheads. Norcros has also said the business is cash generative, well invested and led by an experienced local management team.
Norcros is reducing its exposure to South Africa and putting more emphasis on bathroom products in the UK and Europe. That would give the group a simpler structure and a clearer market position. The move follows several recent portfolio changes. Norcros exited Johnson Tiles in the UK in 2024 and sold Johnson Tiles South Africa in June 2025. It also acquired Fibo in Norway in October 2025.
The sale process is expected to take around 12 months. Any deal will also need approval from South African competition authorities. The outcome will depend on buyer interest, regulatory clearance and the terms Norcros can achieve. However, the group is not presenting the South African business as under pressure. It has described the operation as profitable and well managed, which may support the sale process and help protect value.
If completed, the disposal would leave Norcros more focused on its core markets.
Norcros plc (LON:NXR) is a leading B2B producer of branded bathroom and kitchen products for its UK, South African and selected export markets. The portfolio is characterised by strong individual brands, together providing product breadth and channel diversity from a strong supply chain base.
