Musgrave Group has acquired J&J Haslett, a major food wholesaler and cash and carry business in Northern Ireland.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approval in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland, which is anticipated in September.
J&J Haslett, which has been in business since 1854, supplies almost 200 Mace and 70 XL Stop and Shop stores as well as operating seven Holmes cash and carry outlets. The business in the year to December 31, 2006, had a turnover of £192 million and employs 360 people at eight locations across Northern Ireland.
Michael Hamilton, managing director, and Ronnie Lewis, finance director, will leave the J&J Haslett business and Martin Kelleher, currently SuperValu sales director in the Republic of Ireland, will become md. Tom Uprichard, delivered business director, and Michael Patterson, trading director will remain in their current positions with the company and as part of the new board.
Chris Martin, chief executive of Musgrave Group said: “J&J Haslett is an excellent business with a strong position in the dynamic Northern Ireland convenience market. The bringing together of this well run business, combined with the expertise of Musgrave in developing retail brands, growing and developing retailer relationships and using our scale and buying power to maximum benefit for our customers, will, we believe, secure the future growth of J&J Haslett, along with its Mace and XL Stop and Shop retailers and its cash and carry customers.
“Musgrave and Haslett’s not only compliment each other in terms of their approach to business, but are also an excellent fit in terms of values and culture. Both companies and their retail partners are also at the heart of local communities throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom offering consumers choice, value and a quality service.
“With these core values very much in mind, we are looking forward to partnering with entrepreneurial Mace and XL Stop and Shop retailers and Holmes cash and carry customers to support, invest and develop those brands into the future.”
