The Pickard Group York stone quarrying and production company that has sold its two product lines -natural landscaping materials and diamond sawn stone - under the two company names of Percy Pickard (sales) Ltd and Hard York Quarries (Bolton Wood) Ltd, respectively, have brought the sales operations together under the Hard York Quarries name.

The change was made from the start of this month (October). The aim, they say, is to improve the efficiency of operations, both in production and sales, and allow the company to compete in an ever expanding, globalised market with a sales service that matches "the unrivalled quality of our stone".

Hard York Quarries Ltd will be the contact point for all of customers and will be the name that will be used for all marketing in the future.

Edward Marshall, the nephew of the current owner, became the new manager of the company in 2002. He says it is his aim to work with the sales director, Mick Spratt, to take the company forward as leaders in their field.

"York stone is a premium product, a Rolls Royce of sandstones, and we are lucky to have long running quarries producing some of the best stones of the type available. We want to strengthen our position to be the best supplier in the country and be a first port of call for all projects," they say."We have done many prestigious projects over the years but with the increase of our production capacity over the last two years we have had many exciting projects in a short space of time. "Most recently we have completed a diamond sawn paving contract in Saltaire World Heritage site in Bradford, our local city as well as projects as far apart as Kilsyth in Scotland and Southend on Sea and Whitstable on the very south of the UK. "We also specialise in supplying the best in York stone riven flags produced in our Deep Lane Quarry to projects all around the country."

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