Closed Blakemore depot gets new owner

Ramsden Group’s Dee Bee Wholesale adds Grimsby site to its portfolio

Dee Bee Wholesale has added a third depot to its portfolio after it snapped up a former Blakemore Wholesale cash and carry.

The Today’s Group member has taken control of the site in Grimsby, which closed its doors last month when the final Blakemore Wholesale depots were shut. The acquisition is Dee Bee’s second depot in the seaside town, with its third based in nearby Hull.

The move is the latest part of Dee Bee’s expansion, with the company – which is part of Ramsden Group – posting group sales of more than 13.2% in the first 26 weeks of its financial year, with the Grimsby cash and carry business growing by 60.5% in the last four weeks on the back of industry upheaval impacting other businesses.

Dee Managing Director Nick Ramsden (pictured above) said: “We have had a great start to the year in a very competitive marketplace, with strong growth driven through our strategy of good service and availability supported by competitive pricing. Having attracted a number of new customers following the collapse of P&H (Palmer & Harvey), we continue to grow our Today’s symbol store estate, as well as expanding our coverage areas and developing further into servicing the pub, bar and hotel sectors with an increased offer.

“We saw this as an excellent opportunity to further grow our business in north east Lincolnshire, while proving former Blakemore customers with a seamless supply transfer.”

Today’s Group Managing Director Darren Goldney was happy to see a member taking a positive step towards growing further.

“We are absolutely delighted to see the Ramsden Group expanding in the area,” he said. “In a constantly changing environment it is great to see one of our founding members achieve such success and continuing to see opportunity in the independent sector.”

acquisition Blakemore Wholesale Darren Goldney Dee Bee Wholesale Ramsden Group Today's Group