Tandragee-based Tayto’s affiliate company, Montagu Group, has bought its second vending business, West Country Vending Service.
The business turns over £11m a year and has a strong presence in the South West of England and South Wales.
The multi-million pound deal includes West Country subsidiary, Hilton Vending, and brings an additional 5,300 operational vending machines under the group’s control.
West Country provides a range of products and services, not just managing and outsourcing vending machines but also selling them to a range of clients.
The family-owned organisation services customers across many sectors, including business, industry and leisure.
Paul Allen, chief executive of the Montagu Group, explains: “West Country is a long-established, route-based business with robust strongholds in the areas in which it operates.
“This acquisition is the next progressive step in our strategic development programme and increases our share of the GB vending-solutions sector significantly, bringing an extra 5,300 vending machines online.
“West Country is both disciplined and highly customer-focused with a family-oriented ethos similar to the Tayto Group, which, along with its fixed revenue streams, made it an attractive proposition.”
Tayto Group’s diversification into the vending-solutions sector has increased the company’s turnover, which in the last 12 years, has risen from £19 million and is now in excess of £215 million.
Mr Allen said: “Although we are still in the very early days of our expansion into the GB vending sector, we are making large strides, building our profile and presence rapidly.
“We have acquired more than 12,500 vending machines in the space of a year which, in turn, has increased the group’s turnover substantially.
“We are aiming for further growth within this sector as we continue to roll out our development plan, which opens up new distribution channels for Tayto Group products, alongside the extensive range of hot and cold drinks and confectionery that our machines carry.”
Dylan Jones, who will carry on in his role as MD of West Country, added: “West Country Vending is delighted to be joining the Montagu family today.
“We have been proudly serving our region now for 50 years, and all of us welcome the opportunity to take the next step in our development and to be part of a dynamic, fast-growing and customer-driven group.”
Mr Allen concluded: “We have been very impressed with West Country and its skilled management team which has made it, as we perceive, a ‘safe’ business in which to invest as part of a buy-and-build strategy.”
Tayto Group, which is owned by Northern Ireland family, the Hutchinsons, employs almost 2000 people across its operations and is the country’s largest UK-owned crisp and snack manufacturer.
With headquarters in Tayto Castle, Co Armagh, the Group produces more than 25 million bags of snacks and crisps each week across its six sites, which are based in Tandragee, Corby, Scunthorpe, Westhoughton, Wolverhampton and Devon.
Tayto Group’s portfolio includes Tayto, Golden Wonder, Mr Porky, REAL Crisps, Jonathan Crisp and Portlebay Popcorn and its products are currently exported to around 43 countries, including Australia, Dubai, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United States of America.
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