Hull-based food supplier Alpine Fine Foods has been bought by North East giant Kitwave Group for an undisclosed fee.
Alpine, based at the Milestone Business Park in Oslo Road, sells its products to businesses across Yorkshire, and has a turnover of around £13m.
The food firm has now been snapped up by Kitwave Group.
It follows Kitwave’s recent acquisition of York-based Miller Food Service, as Alpine’s new owner expands its presence in the county.
Phil Davis, managing director at Alpine Fine Foods, said: “The acquisition has come at an exciting time for Alpine, after an already successful year this is a positive move towards growing the business further.
“The senior management and staff at Alpine are really looking forward to working closely with the Gareth and his team which will further improve our already high customer service levels.”
Alpine Fine Foods’ catalogue includes a range of ambient, chilled, frozen, fresh meat and fruit and vegetable products.
Its fleet of vehicles serves customers across the North East, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, the North West and the Midlands.
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New owners Kitwave said it hoped the purchase of Alpine would “offer a greater product range and improved delivery capability.”
Ben Maxted, Kitwave’s head of frozen & chilled operations, will join the board of Alpine Fine Foods alongside Gareth Wilson, managing director at Miller Food Service.
Mr Maxted said: “We’re delighted to announce the acquisition of Alpine Fine Foods.
“The business is renowned for providing a quality delivered solution to its customers and this ethos is a key part of the Kitwave Group.
“We look forward to building further our foodservice offering to the benefit of both customers and suppliers alike.”
The acquisition was supported by new finance facilities made available by Barclays Bank and Yorkshire Bank.
Kitwave were supported on the transaction by Muckle LLP and KPMG on the acquisition in providing legal and due diligence services.
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Garreth Wilson, managing director at Kitwave-owned York firm Miller Foods: “Having operated in the food service sector for 17 years, Alpine is a business very similar to our own, built on a reputation of fantastic customers service, resulting from its loyal and hardworking employees.
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“I look forward to working with Phil Davis, Peter McAlpin and the rest of the team, who I know will continue to keep the business moving in the right direction.”
Kitwave, founded by CEO Paul Young, in 1988, has transformed itself from a regional confectionery-based business to a diversified, national wholesaler through a number of acquisitions since 2011.
The group has built a reputation for excellence in service quality, product availability and customer relationship and has a strong foundation for the future.
As well as now having nationwide delivery capability, the group has expanded to offer frozen, ambient and own label products to the independent retail, vending and foodservice sectors.
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