Bestway has bought Scottish wholesaler Bellevue, the owner of two cash & carries, for an undisclosed sum.

Bellevue’s depots in Edinburgh and Stirling will be operated by Bestway subsidiary Batleys.

The buy-out comes just two months after chief executive Zameer Choudrey told The Grocer that Bestway was back on the acquisition trail.

A strategic review will now be undertaken involving the senior management from both Batleys and Bellevue to consider the development of the new business.

“We have been keen to expand the group with the right properties and in the right place for some time,” said Choudrey. “The acquisition of Bellevue will help us to continue to build the Batleys company – something we have always said we wanted to do in Scotland.”

Bellevue’s owners, brother Graham and George Benson, will be consultants to the business’s new owners.

“Being part of a much larger organisation will ensure progressive growth for Bellevue and provide added value for our large and loyal customer base,” said Bellevue managing director Graham Benson.

Meanwhile, Bestway is to build a new depot in Liverpool.

“The new depot will fill a gap in our portfolio in the northwest and follows our business strategy of building business for the independents,” Choudrey said.

“Both these moves underline our continued investment and commitment to the independent sector.”

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Bestway outlines plans for foodservice growth (20 March 2010)

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