Nottingham expansion follows investor’s takeover of greeting cards business

Greetings cards company BGC is to open a site in Nottingham after being bought by private equity firm Ardenton Capital for an undisclosed sum.

The business sells greetings cards and gift wrap, as well as other stationery and celebratory products, to SME businesses through eight cash and carry warehouses.

BGC’s founder and managing director, Paul Lavery, will stay in the business while his brother and co-founder Martin Lavery will exit but remain involved on a consultancy basis.

Paul Lavery said: “The business has been trading well for more than 30 years, so it was crucial for us that we found an investor who believed in the long-term growth of the company.”

Ardenton plans to invest in an e-commerce platform to drive additional growth at the £36m-turnover group, which employs 180 staff.

Michael Bradbury, director of Ardenton UK, said: “We will assist management in developing new routes to market for the business and its products, which will unlock future growth.

“In the short term, BGC will launch a new cash and carry outlet in Nottingham and will commence development of an online presence.”

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