WHOLESALER Batleys last week reported its satisfaction with the integration of the two Scottish cash and carry businesses it acquired last year – and left the door open for further growth in Scotland.
Batleys, part of the Bestway Group, bought Edinburgh-based Bellevue and Martex, the former cash and carry business of CJ Lang, to signifcantly enhance its presence north of the border.
Martin Race, the firm’s operations director, said the “new Batleys in Scotland have settled in well”.
“We are actively involved with the SWA (Scottish Wholesale Association) and having just spoken at its annual conference I got the chance to meet a lot of our ‘new customers’ and share some of their business concerns,” he said.
“Since taking on the Bellevue and Martex businesses we have grown the Batleys original offering by extending the development of Drinks Direct and the highly successful foodservice side of the original business and that is making good progress with new customers.
“Drinks Direct operates an on-trade delivered service to pubs and clubs across the region within a 20-mile radius of Edinburgh. It provides a telesales as well as an on the road sales force, visiting customers. The Drinks Direct division offers an invaluable, comprehensive range with a next day delivery service.”
And Race said Batleys, which currently has seven branches, sees the potential for further growth in Scotland, adding that it was “actively looking for more sites” north of the border.
