100 jobs created as cash & carry depot opens

More than 100 jobs have been created with the opening of a cash & carry depot in Birmingham.

Parfetts is an employee-owned company and the Birmingham site is its eighth cash and carry depot.

The operation will help thousands of retailers across the Midlands access great value offers and expertise through the company’s extensive network of development advisers.

Parfetts operates depots in Aintree, Anfield, Birmingham, Halifax, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Sommercoates and Stockport. Its operations cover Northumberland to Wales, the Midlands and Northamptonshire.

The company supports more than 1,100 retailers through its Go Local and The Local fascia group and operates a retail club with over 5,000 members.

Parfetts revenue reached a record £570m last year, and the new Birmingham depot is an important part of its growth plans.

Guy Swindell, joint managing director of Parfetts, said: “Our team has worked hard to launch the new Birmingham depot in a short period of time. It was great to have their hard work recognised by the Mayor. We can’t wait to bring the benefits of our employee-owned model to independent retailers across the region.”

Commenting on the launch, Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Given my time at John Lewis, I’ve always had an affinity for employee-owned businesses. That’s why it’s wonderful to welcome Parfetts to our region, and I very much look forward to seeing them go from strength to strength in the months and years ahead – helping our retail sector to advance.”

Parfetts was established as a family business in 1980, a majority was sold to an Employee Trust Board in 2008, and the company became fully employee-owned in October 2018.