Halewood International sells drinks distributor for £4m
HALEWOOD International has sold its drinks delivery subsidiary Classic Drinks to cash and carry company Booker for £4m.
Liverpool-based Halewood, the company behind Crabbies alcoholic ginger beer and Lambrini sparkling wine, described the deal as a “non-core disposal.”
Halewood has owned Classic Drinks since 2001. The business is a specialist ‘on-trade’ wholesaler and supplies beer, wine and spirits and non-alcoholic drinks to pubs, clubs and other licensed premises.
It has annual sales of around £30m, is focused mostly in the North and Midlands and employs 140 people.
Classic has depots in St Helens, Lancaster, Blackpool, Barrow, Rotherham, Bridlington, Ilkeston, Abergwyngregyn and West Bromwich and also operates two cash and carry outlets at Barrow and St Helens.
Northamptonshire-based Booker, the UK’s biggest cash and carry wholesaler, said in a stock market announcement that it intends to continue to operate Classic under its existing management team and brand, as part of Booker Direct, to complement its offering to caterers in the UK.
Booker, which in the six months to end of September grew sales from £1.6bn to £1.7bn acquired Classic Drinks along with high-end food ingredients supplier Ritter Courivaud, which it is buying in a £14.5m all-share deal.
