Bestway is set to take over its nearest challenger in the cash and carry market, boosting its £1bn business by more than £600m and making it a clear second to Booker.
After several days of intense speculation in the trade, Bestway MD Younus Sheikh, and Len McCormick, his counterpart at Batleys, confirmed they were in talks about Bestway acquiring the Batleys business.
In a joint statement they said: “We would stress that nothing has been signed or firmed up and as such both businesses are trading as normal. As soon as we have something to announce we will announce it, first of all to
our staff and then to the trade.” Trade sources have suggested that the deal is very close to completion.
Bestway has 31 depots and turnover in its last financial year was £1.064bn. Batleys, with 18 cash and carry depots and seven petfood delivery depots, had a turnover of £647m. However, together they are still less than half the size of Booker, with 173 depots and a turnover of £3.488bn.
Bestway is strongest around London, where Batleys has no depots. There are cities where both are represented but a competitor noted Bestway did not have a history of closing outlets.
While speculation in the trade about the deal proved correct, Big Food Group boss Bill Grimsey “categorically and emphatically” denied a second rumour that 40 Booker depots were earmarked for closure.
n See next week’s issue for The Big 30 ranking the UK’s top 30 wholesalers.
John Wood
After several days of intense speculation in the trade, Bestway MD Younus Sheikh, and Len McCormick, his counterpart at Batleys, confirmed they were in talks about Bestway acquiring the Batleys business.
In a joint statement they said: “We would stress that nothing has been signed or firmed up and as such both businesses are trading as normal. As soon as we have something to announce we will announce it, first of all to
our staff and then to the trade.” Trade sources have suggested that the deal is very close to completion.
Bestway has 31 depots and turnover in its last financial year was £1.064bn. Batleys, with 18 cash and carry depots and seven petfood delivery depots, had a turnover of £647m. However, together they are still less than half the size of Booker, with 173 depots and a turnover of £3.488bn.
Bestway is strongest around London, where Batleys has no depots. There are cities where both are represented but a competitor noted Bestway did not have a history of closing outlets.
While speculation in the trade about the deal proved correct, Big Food Group boss Bill Grimsey “categorically and emphatically” denied a second rumour that 40 Booker depots were earmarked for closure.
John Wood
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