The Builders Merchants Federation is the only body to represent the interests of the whole merchant industry throughout the UK in both heavyside and lightside activities. It is the industry’s foremost authority on the building supply chain representing the merchant - supplier - contractor route to market. BMF Members benefit from many valuable services – everything from practical advice on up-selling building products at the trade counter to help in dealing with trading standards officers. BMF’s mission is to help Members cope with all the legal, technical and bureaucratic issues that affect their businesses.

BMF is also the industry’s leading provider of training for merchants, distributors and suppliers. BMF Training delivers a comprehensive selection of career development packages for everyone from school-leaver to national company director.

The first trade organisation to include the words 'builders merchants' in its title was the Builders Merchants Alliance Ltd, formed on 2nd April 1908. During the next 75 years, five other name changes were made before the present title was reached. The Builders Merchants Alliance itself came about as a result of a change in another organisation - the London Lime, Cement, Brick & Slate Merchants Trade Protection Association which was formed in 1901.

The Builders Merchants Alliance survived until 1936 when the association approved new Articles of Association to become the Builders Supplies Credit Association (BSCA). It continued until it was absorbed into the National Federation of Builders and Plumbers Merchants in 1961. In 1983 the BSCA moved to merge with the United Association for the Protection of Trade based at Croydon.

The National Federation of Builders and Plumbers Merchants itself developed from the inclusion of the BSCA in a merger of two other industry organisations - the British Federation of Plumbers Merchants and the Building Industry Distributors.

The British Federation of Plumbers Merchants was formed in 1938. Its members were essentially concerned with the 'lightside' trade products. The Building Industry Distributors (BID) was formed in 1942. Its greatest membership strengths were in Manchester and the North.

The National Federation of Builders & Plumbers Merchants (NFBPM) was formed in 1961 from the mergers mentioned above. The BMF was formed in 1978 after a competition was organised amongst the NFBPM members for a new name and logo.

The BMF's premises at Soho Square, London were purchased in 1975.