Sales hot up for chiller maker

A fast-growing manufacturer of refrigerators and chillers is set to create jobs and grow sales after winning a supply contract from a major coffee chain.

To help it to fulfil the contract Booth Dispensers of Blackpool has secured a £1m funding package from Yorkshire Bank.

Booth Dispensers is hoping to create up to 20 jobs over the next year, a 25% increase on its current level of 85, and is expecting turnover to rise to £6.5m this year – nearly twice the £3.6m seen in 2009.

The contract will see it supply around 20,000 refrigerators a year to provide coffee machines with freshly chilled water.

The firm, which makes a range of water dispensing chillers and vending refrigerators, was hit hard when the recession began cutting back after a fall in sales.

As demand grew, the company invested in new products and entered new sales markets.

Managing director Phil Elliott said: “We’ve almost doubled in size since 2009 and we’re predicting a similar level of growth over the next two years, so this funding package from Yorkshire Bank is vital to support our working capital requirements.

“We make all of our products here in Blackpool, which gives us total flexibility and no reliance on third parties, and I believe this has been a major factor in our recovery, giving us the edge over our competitors.”

Andy Nurse, business partner at Yorkshire Bank’s Preston Financial Solutions Centre, which provided the funding under its Investing for Growth scheme, said: “Booth Dispensers is a fantastic example of how a business can respond positively to recession by developing and growing new markets in difficult conditions.

“Through innovation and hard work the company has secured a bright future.”