Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore has acquired online wholesaler and retailer, Vegan Store.
The acquisition represents a move that will diversify Blakemore group’s brand portfolio while adding a purely online division to the business structure, it said.
The specialist vegan operator currently sells via the veganstore.co.uk website and its wholesale version, veganstorewholesale.com. Blakemore said it will look to also make Vegan Store products available through stores.
Vegan Store stocks vegan food, drink, healthcare and beauty products from serveral countries around the world, including the UK, Australia, America and the Far East.
“The vegan or vegetarian lifestyle is predicted to be the choice of up to 25% of the British population by 2025,” said Blakemore group commercial MD Jerry Marwood.
“By acquiring Vegan Store we are adding a niche brand to our portfolio that we will be able to develop and grow in line with forecasted market growth.
“We now have access to some of the best vegan products in the world, such as Go Max Go candy bars and Vegg, but in addition, we can continue to create innovative new product development through Vegan Store’s Golden Crunch brand.
“AF Blakemore has innovation at its heart, and throughout the company’s 100-year history, keeping ahead of customer trends and changing consumer behaviour have been central to our success.
“Since its foundation in 2000, Vegan Store has been at the forefront of the vegan revolution and we are delighted to be bringing its product range and ethos into the Blakemore group.
“New vegan products will present our Spar stores, Philpotts stores and partners in retail, wholesale and foodservice with a fantastic opportunity to attract new customers, as well as to provide innovative alternatives for existing ones.”
As part of the agreement, Vegan Store founder Lisa Ruskin will be joining AF Blakemore in a consultative role.
She will continue to support the Vegan Store proposition while bringing her knowledge and expertise to the other markets in which the company operates.
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