Funding boosts future growth for Sandwich Express (Cheshire) Ltd

Sandwich Express (Cheshire) Ltd has secured an increased finance facility from Allied Irish Bank (GB) to support the firm’s continued growth which has included the recent refurbishment of its shop at Ellesmere Port which has led to a 400% rise in turnover.

Established in 1918 Sandwich Express (Cheshire) Ltd is based in Ellesmere Port and is a long standing family business which was originally named ‘Drury’s Bakery.’  Today it is run by Spencer Drury and Martin Drury who are third and fourth generation family members, respectively with a Bakery and Sandwich shop in Ellesmere Port and a fleet of food trucks, delivering sandwiches and snacks to offices, industrial/business parks and vending machine facilities across Ellesmere Port, Wirral, Chester, Birkenhead, Cheshire, and the surrounding area.

Sandwich Express (Cheshire) Ltd required the funding from Allied Irish Bank (GB) to expand its fleet of sandwich and delivery vans to 20. The additional headroom in the facility means the business can access funding when they need it which has proven important during the pandemic and helped support the refurbishment of its Ellesmere Port Bakery and Sandwich shop. The impact of COVID-19 and people working from home at the start of the pandemic forced the team to change how they operate and supply home delivery food essentials boxes, but more recently the business has been able to get its vans back out on the road as Martin Drury explains.

Martin Drury, Sandwich Express (Cheshire) Ltd explains: “The business has been enjoying impressive growth with a 400% rise in turnover since we refurbished the Ellesmere Port shop and got the vans back out on the road. During the first lockdown none of our vans were able to go out so we had to adapt and reinvent the business by providing an online shop offering food boxes to our customers ranging from basic food essential packs, veg and fruit boxes as well as cakes, sandwich platters and drinks. This was our only source of income during this period – all the staff were on furlough and we had a payment break from Allied Irish Bank (GB) for three months. This really helped to put the business in a strong position when lockdown ended, as all the income from the food boxes paid off most off our creditors. Allied Irish Bank (GB) really looked after us with that payment break. Their support has given us the confidence to expand the business and focus on new areas.

Now people have the confidence to get back out to the shops and some people are back in their offices this has boosted our income considerably.  All but one of our vans are back out now, and things are looking much brighter for the future and the success of the shop has meant we can now look to expand with more shops across the region.”

James Prendergast, Assistant Relationship Manager at Allied Irish Bank (GB) said: “Sandwich Express (Cheshire) Ltd is a great family business that has been serving the local area for over 100 years and continues to enjoy growth despite the challenges of the current environment. I’ve been really impressed with how they adapted their business at the start of the pandemic and how they have taken this opportunity to refurbish the Ellesmere Port shop and expanded their van fleet to drive the business forward. It is a real achievement they have recorded such an impressive increase in turnover and is testament to the hard work and commitment of the team at Sandwich Express (Cheshire) Ltd.”