Bestway Cash & Carry is on the hunt for further acquisitions after snapping up CJ Lang’s Martex Cash & Carry business this week.

Martex’s three cash & carries and its foodservice operation, which were sold for an undisclosed sum on Saturday, will fall under Bestway’s Batleys portfolio with the depots renamed Batleys Cash & Carry.

Bestway group CEO Zameer Choudrey said the deal would strengthen the wholesaler’s position in Scotland. It bought Bellvue Cash & Carry in June this year and now has seven depots north of the border. “Scotland is an important market for us and somewhere we have been under-represented,” he added.

A spokesman confirmed the wholesaler was still on the lookout for companies to acquire, especially in Scotland. “We are always happy to speak to people,” he said. Choudrey added: “We very much welcome the opportunity to bring to our many potential customers in Scotland the best prices, with increased value and the best possible service. Right now the emphasis is very much business as usual for the Martex customers and staff. We will be conducting a strategic review of our increased Scottish business before we consider if any changes are to be made in how we operate currently.”

Martex Cash & Carry serves indies in retail, leisure and catering. Its particular strengths are in beer, wine and spirits, cigarettes, confectionery and grocery. It also has a butchery department.

CJ Lang’s Spar business is not included in the sale. “While our cash & carry and foodservice division has always been a good profit and cash generator, it had contracted in scale in recent years, thus becoming a non-core activity,” said CJ Lang MD Scott Malcolm.

“The sale of this division was a strategic move, allowing us to unlock value for reinvestment in our Spar business, which now becomes the sole focus. The company remains strong, independent and committed to recruiting retailers to the Spar group and increasing our Spar company store estate.”

Topics