Bristows and Crawford & Tilley brought under one roof
Commercial director Nigel Moult said the consolidation of the two companies would be in line with the investment and innovation focus of the business.
Boost efficiencies
“This step will allow us to be much more efficient and save our customers time, as well as opening up choice, with an increased number of new SKUs [stock keeping units] available to order with ease,” he said.
“We’re building our export business as well as national distribution within the UK and it’s important that we unify shared services so everyone has one point of contact.”
The creation of the Great British Confectionery Group comes less that a year after the Paramount Retail Group bought Crawford & Tilley out of administration. The deal safeguarded the future of 35 jobs across the manufacturers two sites in Thrapston, Northants, and Hadfield, Derbyshire.
Acquired in 2017
Paramount acquired the assets of Bristows in 2017 after the company, under a number of different incarnations, went through a number of insolvencies in recent years.
Teams at both companies are now working on new seasonal lines to compliment the launch of the new venture. The two companies’ brands – including Pollards and Tuckers – will still remain, with customers now able to order from the two through one combined public-facing business. Customers will be able to raise one purchase order for the Great British Confectionery Group and be sent single invoices for goods ordered across both companies.
Meanwhile, last month, Burton’s Biscuit Co has acquired Thomas Fudge’s, the premium sweet and savoury branded and own-label biscuit manufacturer, which bakes Marmite products under licence, from private equity firm Livingbridge. Burton’s said the deal was another important milestone in its strategy of focusing on high-quality baking.
