Bunley-based Birchall Foodservice is expanding its operation in Wales following the acquisition of Willow Foods Ltd.
The company, which has its headquarters and a depot in Burnley and already has depots in Llandudno, Durham, Sheffield and Stafford, purchased Willow Foods Ltd on October 1st for an undisclosed sum.
Willow Foods Ltd is a private independent company, which was set up by Malcolm Acott in 1992 and specialises in the sourcing and distribution of quality chilled and fresh foods – an area Birchall Foodservice are keen to develop. Birchall Foodservice plan to retain Willow’s identity and will continue to operate out of its purpose-built premises in Wrexham. Former MD Malcolm Acott will maintain his involvement and interest in the business going forward.
Colin Birchall, managing director of Birchall Foodservice, said: “We already supply customers in Wales on a foodservice basis and this is a natural expansion to our customer base.
‘Willow customers will now get immediate access to our extensive product range and service delivery, as well as all of the benefits that come from being a member of the Country Range Group, whilst Birchalls can now offer expertise in chilled and fresh foods to customers across the north of England, so everyone gets the best of both worlds.”
The company will trade as Willow Fresh Foods and Birchall has ambitious plans. “Our first target is to double turnover in Wales,” he said. This latest project follows a massive expansion scheme at Birchall Foodservice’s headquarters in Burnley, Lancashire.
Work was recently completed to build a 10,000 sq ft extension to provide additional bulk storage, as well as an extension to the goods-in area. It was followed by a second extension to increase the size of the freezer by 2,500 sq ft, making total warehousing space of 32,000 sq ft. The work is all part of the company’s bid to reach its goal of £20million turnover this year.
Former MD of Willow Foods Ltd, Malcolm Acott, said: “I’m very excited to be involved in the company in its new phase of development. Not only are the two companies’ product portfolios and services complementary, perhaps more important is the ethos of the principle directors. It’s on the basis of this shared empathy that this development has come to pass.”
