[ INDUSTRY NEWS ]
Ninth for Dhamecha
Pradip Dhamecha: confident the Birmingham unit will be as successful as other sites.
Dhamecha Foods has paid ‘several million pounds’ to develop a site in the Smethwick area of Birmingham for its ninth cash & carry. The plan is to start trading by the end of the year. The 70,000 sq ft modified depot, with around 75 staff, will stock a wide range of grocery products, confectionery, beers, wines & spirits, toiletries and tobacco for convenience retailers and caterers in the West Midlands. Chief executive Pradip Dhamecha said: “We have been operating cash & carries in the London area for over 40 years, with seven branches in and around the M25. “In 2015 we opened our first branch outside of the capital – in Leicester, our first foray into the Midlands area. It’s trading well. “We are confident the Birmingham unit will replicate the success of the Leicester branch, as well as those in the London area.” Dhamecha, with an annual turnover of £703 million, is the largest member of Today’s Group, headed by acting MD John Schofield. a Dhamecha Foods 0208903 8181 10
July 2017
Ambitious three-year plan With supplier support, Blakemore Wholesale is aiming to double its catering and on-trade sales over the next three years. The plan was unveiled at a briefing session at the Wolverhampton head office. Managing director James Russell, who opened the event, attended by representatives of 40 key manufacturers and members of the company’s leadership team, said: “This project will establish a comprehensive catering solution across Blakemore Wholesale. It will also harness the full power of the wider group, including Fine Foods, Fresh Foods and Foodservice.” He added: “It was fantastic to see the level of engagement and support by suppliers. The challenging question-and-answer session reflected a willingness to understand and work with the group.” The event highlighted the
company’s expertise in butchery and ability to source regional food and drink. The on-trade and catering concept was tested this month at the Cardiff depot; the roadshow is then moving to the Bangor, Penrith and Gateshead sites over the summer. Britvic Soft Drinks’ national account manager Helen Thorne said: “I think that
Blakemore’s approach to the catering and on-trade is very creative and totally relevant. It reflects the market dynamics and absolutely plays to their group strengths.” Other suppliers represented at the event included Typhoo, Coca-Cola, Heinz and Thorntons. Also attending were directors of Landmark Wholesale. a Blakemore Wholesale (01902) 371530
Butchery development manager Gerwyn Harries discusses the plans with suppliers at the briefing session.
Under Sainsbury’s control? As this issue of Cash & Carry Management went to press, rumours persisted that Sainsbury was preparing a £130 million takeover bid for Nisa. The Co-op and Morrisons are also understood to have been among those showing an interest in the Scunthorpe-based wholesaler and symbol retail chain, which has undergone a chequered existence since splitting from Today’s Group in 2011. Two years ago, Nick Read was recruited as chief executive and Robin Brown became the new chief financial officer –
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appointments that helped to stabilise the business. Nisa, which is in the middle of a three-year development programme, recently hired bankers to advise on its strategy, resulting in a £120 million refinancing of the company.
Last year sales rose by 2.3% to £1.25 billion after adjustments were made for losing the Costcutter account. Pre-tax profit was £2.8 million – an £8.1 million turnaround from the previous 12 months. The target is for £2 billion sales by 2019. The number of stores serviced is almost 3,500. Read, who joined the company from Thomas Cook and was previously a Tesco and Aldi director, said the five-year loan facility was an improvement on the previous financial arrangement. a Nisa Retail (01724) 282028