Photolink on growth trail after maiden swoop

RETAIL specialist Photolink Creative Group has an appetite for more bolt-on acquisitions, having bought a London agency last year .

The £12m turnover Ardwick-based photographic company, which has a studio in Mumbai, India, as well as its Hungry Tiger operation in the capital, now employs 170 people across the three sites.

Managing director Jayne Riley said Photolink is keen to offer clients such as Marks & Spencer, John Lewis Partnership and Tesco, a “complete end-to-end service”, and as such will look to make more deals if the opportunity arises.

“There was only so much we could achieve organically, so while buying Hungry Tiger was really hard work, it was the right thing to do at the right time, and we now have a bit of an appetite to do more.

“We are working with something like eight of the top 10 retailers and we have a good pipeline of new business, which is exciting.”

The company has also recently transferred its banking facilities from Royal Bank of Scotland to Barclays.

Barclays business development director Matt Ryan said: “This is a great business model, and strong management team, which is well placed to achieve significant growth.

“Photolink’s retail expertise is really well aligned to Barclays sector focus and as well as  supporting their business we are already seeing the development of wider opportunities.”