The new deal strengthens Brakes considerably as it previously did not have a fresh produce offer. Pauleys specialises in nation-wide, fresh fruit and vegetable supply to the food service industry and has an annual turnover of some £50million. Its next-day delivery service will now complement Brakes fleet of 1,500 vehicles and the company is expected to retain its own company name and corporate image.

'I am very excited about joining the Brakes team,' said Pauleys md Roger Canham. 'It will be good for our customers and our employees.' Brakes md of UK sales Nigel Terry described the acquisition as 'significant' and said it represents a 'considerable opportunity for cross-selling of fresh produce within Brakes'.

This means that Brakes hopes to acquire some of Pauley's clients to supply them with the rest of their food-service requirements while Pauley's stands to benefit from supplying fresh produce to Brakes's clientele.

In 1999 Brakes took over ambient supplier Watson & Philip. And the Brakes group was itself acquired in August this year by Clayton Dubilier & Rice.

This latest acquisition of Pauleys is part of the Brakes's strategy for European food-service domination. Thanks to acquisitions and organic growth it had already become one of the leading players in frozen, fresh and ambient foods in catering supply in the UK and is the second largest in the frozen and chilled sectors in France.