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Online wholesaler Vegan Store bought by A.F. Blakemore

Hannah Hastings
By Hannah HastingsAug 13, 2020
Hannah Hastings
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A.F. Blakemore has announced the purchase of online wholesaler and retailer Vegan Store in a move to increase the food distributors range.

Vegan Store is known for their global business stocks in food, drink, healthcare and beauty products and is the UK’s first online independent retailer of vegan products.

The business deal also means the Vegan Store will be an online only division in A.F. Blakemore’s business structure.

Announcing the purchase, group commercial managing director Jerry Marwood, said: “The vegan or vegetarian lifestyle is predicted to be the choice of up to 25% of the British population by 2025.

“By acquiring Vegan Store we are adding a niche brand to our portfolio that we will be able to develop and grow in line with forecasted market growth.

“We now have access to some of the best vegan products in the world, such as Go Max Go candy bars and Vegg, but in addition we can continue to create innovative new product development through Vegan Store’s Golden Crunch brand.

“A.F. Blakemore has innovation at its heart, and throughout the company’s 100-year history, keeping ahead of customer trends and changing consumer behaviour have been central to our success.

“Since its foundation in 2000, Vegan Store has been at the forefront of the vegan revolution and we are delighted to be bringing its product range and ethos into the Blakemore group.”

As part of the agreement, Vegan Store founder Lisa Ruskin will be joining A.F. Blakemore in a consultative role while continuing to support the Vegan Store proposition, bringing her knowledge and expertise to the company.

Marwood added: “The Blakemore group operates across multiple channels, and we are excited to see the benefits that new vegan food and drink will bring to our diverse set of menus and ranges.

“New vegan products will present our SPAR stores, Philpotts stores and partners in retail, wholesale and foodservice with a fantastic opportunity to attract new customers, as well as to provide innovative alternatives for existing ones.”

a.f. blakemoreonline shoppingveganvegan storewholesalers

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