A specialist in food distribution across southern England has acquired a warehouse in south Hampshire as part of a £1.7 million investment.
Founded by managing director Ramazan Yilmaz in 2008, Redstar Foodservice is to centralise operations at 26 Brunel Way, Segensworth East Industrial Park, Fareham, from August.
Property consultancy Vail Williams LLP acquired 26 Brunel Way on behalf of retained client Redstar. The detached distribution warehouse is approximately 15,000 sq ft and located on a 0.80-acre site.
Redstar, which employs 30 people and supplies 400 customers, currently has distribution centres at Empress Road, Southampton, and Portfield Industrial Estate, Nevil Shute Road, Portsmouth.
Ramazan said: “Due to a growing order book from our 400 customers, ranging from Bournemouth University to cafes and takeaways, the time came to centralise Redstar’s operations under one roof, with economies of scale. Our long-term strategy is to become the preferred supplier to universities, colleges and schools across the region.
“The purchase of 26 Brunel Way is an investment totalling £1.7 million. This will include new cold storage equipment and an extensive refurbishment. This is very much a vote of confidence in the future.”
Harnish Patel, an Associate Partner at Vail Williams’ Solent transactional team, was instructed by Redstar to seek and secure a suitable facility.
He said: “The lack of industrial premises for sale had been our greatest challenge. It is for this reason we have experienced an increase in business, retaining us to unlock suitable opportunities to allow them to grow. Redstar’s strategic move and investment will improve productivity, increase employment and have a wider regional economic gain.”
Ramazan said: “Harnish managed to secure precisely what we required and we are grateful to Vail Williams for helping us realise our growth ambitions. Renowned for service excellence, Redstar is regarded as a leading delivered wholesale partner across the education, care, leisure and hospitality sectors.”
Redstar delivers food products to customers within 100 miles of Southampton, covering Hampshire, West Sussex, Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Somerset.
The business is a member of the Confex buying group of independent wholesalers, delivering quality food, drink, packaging and catering products to chefs and caterers.
According to the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, the food and drink wholesale distribution market contributes £3 billion to the UK economy, employing nearly 60,000 people and turning over £29 billion.
Food and drink wholesale distributors, such as Redstar, buy products in bulk, then sell and distribute them to smaller individual buyers at cheaper prices than the small independent buyer could negotiate.
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