Northampton office products supplier snaps up Essex counterpart

The Bluefish Group, based in Northampton, has bought Essex-based Harts Business Solutions.

The takeover will see Harts’ staff members move to The Bluefish Group – which specialises in office products, furniture interiors and print and promotional items – and continue to operate under the name of Harts Business Solutions.

This deal is the third for The Bluefish Group since 2012.

Mark Heath, managing director of The Bluefish Group, said: “We are proud to announce this acquisition. Bluefish has been operating since 2000 and has grown consistently year on year in that time. We saw Harts Business Solutions as an ideal opportunity for further growth and it fitted our strategic footprint into the Essex/Cambridgeshire area.

“Aside from that, Harts brings with it a fantastic heritage of almost 200 years, great people and values that make it a good fit culturally too.”

Martin Turnbull, managing director of Harts Business Solutions, said: “My brother Andrew and I had considered selling Harts Business Solutions before but, as it is a family business that has been in our family for generations, we struggled to find someone who shared our business ethics. I met Mark from Bluefish in March last year and was immediately impressed. We started working with them as a client as they took over our purchasing, logistics and warehousing. This meant that the staff got to know Bluefish gradually and they already have all our stock in their warehouse, which has made for a seamless transition.

“Like us, Bluefish has an established history and the same values – there is a definite synergy between us. I know that Bluefish will continue to train and look after our staff and the team will benefit from being part of a larger company with more resources as they continue to work in an ever-changing market.”