The Shop and Display Equipment Association (SDEA) will take over the International Shopfitting Organisation (ISO) on January 1, 2015.
After 58 years as an independent organisation, ISO will be incorporated into SDEA at its headquarters in the UK. It is the first time since the 1970s that ISO has been based in Britain.

The decision marks an important step in SDEA's current period of growth and development, strengthening business links between shopfitting and display suppliers in the UK and continental Europe.

Current secretary general Preben Bailey, who is retiring after 10 years at the helm, said: "we are happy that such a professional association of our industry is promising our former members not only similar, but in many ways obviously better terms of international membership."

Welcoming the decision SDEA director Lawrence Cutler said: "The incorporation of ISO under the umbrella of the SDEA will add a new dimension to our offer to retail groups, many of which are expanding into mainland Europe. For existing SDEA members and incoming ISO members there will be invaluable opportunities to develop additional cross border trade links."