£35m-turnover appliance parts distributor makes acquisition

Qualtex UK, a Denton-based distributor and manufacturer of appliance spare parts, has acquired JEGS, a £6m-turnover family run business which supplies a range of products in gardening, DIY, electrical and housewares, for an undisclosed sum.

JEGS, which employs 65 staff, will continue to operate under this name, despite being a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualtex UK. It will retain its current structure, with the website and subsequent documentation remaining the same.

Qualtex, which has a turnover of around £35m and employs 180 staff, said the purchase of JEGS, based in Southend-on-Sea, further increases its share in the global appliance spare parts market.

Philip Hulme, chief executive of Qualtex UK, said: “The acquisition of JEGS for our business was a natural choice: we’re both family run companies, with a keen interest in supplying high-quality spares for a range of domestic appliances and finished goods.

“This development forms a crucial part of our plan to grow Qualtex both here in the UK and in the international markets.”

Chairman John Hughes added: “This is first of several acquisitions we have lined up. These events are made possible by the tremendous team we have at Qualtex and the support of the family.”