Landmark Wholesale has poured cold water on rumours linking it to a merger with Nisa-Today's.

Rumours of a tie-up between the UK's two biggest buying groups have persisted since the proposed merger between Nisa-Today's and Costcutter collapsed last November.

These were fuelled further in January when Today's Group MD Rodney Hunt told The Grocer it would be prepared to collaborate with Landmark.

But Landmark MD Martin Williams insisted there were no such plans. Landmark did not need to work with any other groups, he said.

"The group is in a strong financial position. We have just filed our best-ever set of accounts and returned a big dividend to our members," he said. "There is no pressure on Landmark to change at the moment. We are making more investments for members and the board is happy with the strategies we have in place."

However, he admitted the group was keeping an open mind. "We would never simply say no to any suggestion. We will look at whatever comes along."

He revealed Landmark was to spend more than £1m on a new central HQ. The site is near its current rented offices in Milton Keynes and will be owned by the membership. Landmark plans to move offices next September.

Landmark's membership of 30 wholesalers recorded sales of £1.9bn last year, a rise of 6%, he said, adding that the business had identified own-label and foodservice as key opportunities for growth. Overall its own-label range, which includes Vinters Collection wines and Lifestyle household products, has grown 5% to £100m over the past year.

The group also planned to improve its foodservice range and availability in a bid to convince more foodservice customers to make Landmark their choice for a main shop rather than just a top-up, he said. Catering and foodservice sales currently make up 26% of its sales.

Topics