Garden business grows thanks to £2.8m funding

HULL garden wholesaler has laid down more roots in Hull after a £2.8m watering from Yorkshire Bank.

Dutch Imports and Daughters has purchased one of the biggest units at the Humber Enterprise Park after securing the funding.

The 25 year-old company is planning a move from its current Hull base, to the former BAE Systems factories in Brough.

The move means that Dutch Imports will be able to increase its showroom display form 2,000 sq ft to 15,000 sq ft, and to nearly quadruple its storage space to 135,000 sq ft.

The deal was facilitated by Danny Ruston, relationship manager at Yorkshire Bank’s Hull & Humber Business and Private Banking Centre. and the Bank provided a term loan to fund the new warehouse under its SME growth lending initiatives.

It is full-circle move for Charles Kraanen, managing director of Dutch Imports and Daughters who, as a 20-year-old, cleaned windows of the building he now owns. He works alongside his daughters Charlene and Lynsey.

Mr Kraanen said: “It’s a tremendously exciting time for Dutch Imports and Daughters. The premises move will drastically reshape our business model and allow us to grow exponentially.

“We are currently finalising plans for a major refurbishment of the building to create a modern workspace that is logistically friendly and showcases our products.”

David Garness, managing director of Garness Jones Chartered Surveyors in Hull, added: “We have acted for and worked alongside Charles at Dutch Imports and Daughters for 20 years. He approached us because he was looking to expand the business and had been struggling to find suitable premises. We identified the property and worked closely with Yorkshire Bank as negotiations progressed.”

Anthony Hutt, head of Yorkshire Bank’s Hull & Humber Business and Private Banking Centre, said: “We have worked with Charles Kraanen for many, many years and were pleased to be able to support the premises move, which is going to absolutely revolutionise the business.”