Sold. Italian Food & Drink Importer & Distributor

Italian Food & Drink Importer & Distributor
Supplying the Hotel Trade, Restaurants, Coffee Shops and Consumers
Ref.AF035
Location Heathrow, London
Asking Price £ 1,790,000
Established in 1996, the company imports and wholesales a unique, quality range of Italian food, drink and catering utensils, distributing to many satisfied clients. Since inception this business has become the professionals' choice; the client base include restaurants, bars, hotels coffee shops and many other consumers.

Stock includes a large variety of food and drink lines plus catering products. The company provides a complete service to clients operating in the hectic world of hotel, catering and hospitality. Food products range from the ordinary to the ultra-exotic, while catering utensils consist of anything from a mop to a chefs hat.

Food and Drink would account for over 85% of sales and of that the split would be 80% food, 20% drink. Some 15 tonnes of Italian cheese is sold each week.

Additionally the company is now manufacturing pizza dough balls and lasagne in its own purpose built commercial kitchen and which are then sold and delivered to its customers. Current production is running at 3,000 dough balls and 600 lasagnes per month.

This is an excellent, well run business on first class margins, which are achieved by judicious buying from suppliers. This company is debt free and very profitable with gross profit margins of 23-24%, net margins of c8% and growth averaging in excess of 12% per annum. The company is extremely competitive and has earned an impeccable reputation supplying many customers over a wide radius, offering enormous potential to a new owner.

All products are supplied on a very regular delivery cycle, 6 days per week, using the company’s own vehicles within the M25; alternative carriers make deliveries on behalf of the company beyond the M25. All the trucks have dual compartments to handle frozen and ambient product.

The customer base is some 740 strong and is concentrated mainly in the south up to Bedford north of London.

This terrific opportunity has strong name recognition and solid year-round revenue. The business has experienced an expanding customer base since its inception, with an extensive base of long-term repeat clientele and an impeccable reputation standing behind its profitability and outstanding growth potential. There is huge potential for growth.

Market / Competition / Non-Competition Agreements
The best form of advertising for this business is "Recommendation". The business currently promotes itself in magazines and at trade exhibitions. With limited advertising being used in the past there are excellent opportunities to increase this activity and to market the business more aggressively. A large percentage of new business is generated from customer referrals, bearing strong testimony to the business’ excellent reputation. The company has a good website and investment in a marketing manager could help to increase the turnover and profitability.