Blakemore Wholesale has acquired north east-based wholesaler Tyne Tees Cash & Carry for an undisclosed sum.

Tyne Tees, which made a pre-tax profit of £676,000 on sales of £46.3m for the year to January 2007, was founded 35 years ago by brothers Munir, Saghir and Zahir Ahmad and operates two depots in Gateshead and Middlesbrough. Like Blakemore, it is a member of Landmark Wholesale.

The depots would continue to trade under the Tyne Tees name in the short term, but Blakemore was planning "significant investment" in the sites, said Blakemore Wholesale MD Sam Wilcox. "We have been looking to grow and expand our business, and through the acquisition of Tyne Tees we have the opportunity to take on two successful depots that are the right size and in the right geographical location for Blakemore," he said.

Tyne Tees was an ideal fit for Blakemore because it would strengthen its offering for independent retailers and caterers, Wilcox said.

"Tyne Tees is a well-respected and well-known brand in the north east and we decided both depots will continue to trade under this name, but with the additional offering that Blakemore can bring to the business," he added. "Longer term we will be looking to make significant investment across both depots, which we believe will substantially grow the business."