Last year’s £3.5m investment in a 63,000 sq ft depot in Wrexham has already paid off for CTM Wholesale managing director Gino Paletta.
The founder of North Wales-based CTM, a member of Today’s Group and Sugro, says the delivered wholesale and cash and carry facility has enabled the company to break into new markets. “We are seeing turnover up 22% year-on-year. It has allowed us to develop business by supplying a total range of ambient products to our c-store and leisure industry customers, as well as helping us get into the ambient catering market, which is doing well.”
The depot, which serves North Wales and surrounding areas, carries 6,000 lines and its opening enabled CTM to grow its chill & freeze and licensed sections as well as marking the wholesaler’s first venture into cash and carry. It now boasts nursing homes, football club training grounds and the British Legion among it customers - as well as Chester Zoo.
Paletta prides himself on understanding his customers. “They are under threat from companies like Tesco. They run very professional businesses and therefore want a professional and efficient operator to serve them.”
For CTM, that means investing £50,000 in new scanning equipment for the depot and launching an online ordering delivery service next month.
The new depot has helped CTM strengthen relationships with suppliers. “Lots of manufacturers are looking at costs. Because we can deal with full pallets now, we are getting the support of companies. The traditional wholesaler is declining. To survive today you need 60,000 sq ft sites.”