Health and beauty wholesaler Vitality Group has snapped up smaller rival Stephens Wholesale in a deal that it said would increase its annual turnover from £50m to £64m.

Vitality MD Nicky Edden said that the acquisition would create one of the largest ­independent wholesalers of toiletries, household goods, OTC medicines and baby products in the UK.

The deal would ­benefit Vitality by adding new customers and reducing the company's per-unit overhead costs, he added.

Vitality is now preparing to consolidate distribution operations at its HQ in Tottenham, North London, and close Stephens' facility in Dartford, Kent.