Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Major expansion under way at leading butchers
AWILTSHIRE butchers that supplies Michelin-star restaurants has said it expects to grow its sales by a third after acquiring and expanding into a £3.5m site.
Walter Rose and Son, which counts eateries run by celebrity chefs Tom Kerridge and Glynn Purnell among its customers, has bought the entire Banda Industrial Estate in Devizes, around a mile from its high street shop on Sidmouth Street.
The business, which has an annual turnover of £15m and 100 employees, has moved into an 18,000 sq ft unit on the site, which is also home to six other businesses.
The firm added the facility would allow it to expand its home delivery service, introduced during the pandemic to help offset lost income from restaurant trade.
Originally founded in 1847 and taken over by the Cook family in 1977, the company said that it was planning to hire new staff as it expands.
Managing director Steve Cook said: “The restaurant trade got back on its feet quickly following the end of lockdown restrictions and our new premises will help us meet the growing demand from both local eateries to high-end restaurants across the UK.
“It will also help us to sustain and grow our home delivery service. What was once a lifeline for the business is now a significant income stream for us, and it’s the combinaof tion of a successful pivot and expanding order book that makes now the perfect time to scale-up.”
Walter Rose and Son secured the funds to acquire the industrial estate and fit out the new facility from Shawbrook Bank. Oliver Jenkins, director at Shawbrook in the South West and Wales, said Walter Rose and Son was one of its longest-standing customers.
“They’ve shown excellent agility and resilience facing the headwinds
the last few years and have a fantastic track record of providing a quality service that attracts and retains the industries top restauranteurs,” he said.
“That’s why we’re proud to support the business as it takes this big step forward by buying Banda Industrial Estate, which increases its capacity to serve new customers while providing a new rental income stream from the scheme’s occupiers to help diversify its revenue.”