Lomond: Wholesale Food Co acquires Clarks Speciality Foods

07/11/2024
Sam Henderson (Credit: Lomond: The Wholesale Co)

Lomond: The Wholesale Food Co, a Glasgow-based wholesaler, has announced its acquisition of Clarks Speciality Foods, a move that will propel the company’s turnover to a record £55 million in 2025.

This strategic acquisition is set to expand Lomond’s presence in Scotland’s high-end hotel and restaurant sector.

Sam Henderson, managing director of Lomond, emphasised the significance of this acquisition: “We have wanted to expand our presence in the high-end hotel and restaurant sector for some time and Clarks is the perfect acquisition to enable us to do this in an impactful and meaningful way.”

“Clarks stock and distribute some of the finest foods available to the very top tier of Scotland’s thriving hotel and restaurant trade. 

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“They have long been a specialist in the sector and we recognise the team’s expertise and passion for delivering exceptional customer service, which aligns with our own. We look forward to working with them and driving the business forward.

“With our highly efficient warehouse and distribution network and our diverse range of foodservice products, we feel we can enhance the service and availability to Clarks’ existing customer base.

“We will also be able to offer our existing Lomond customers the fantastic range of quality products that Clarks is so well known for.

“Not only will this acquisition bolster our turnover, but it will also create a strong foundation for further growth in the years to come as we work towards our ambition to hit £90m turnover by 2028.”

The acquisition is expected to enhance service and product availability for Clarks’ existing customers, offer Lomond’s customers access to Clarks’ range of quality products, and create a foundation for further growth.

Sam and Barbara Henderson (Credit: Lomond: The Wholesale Co)

Recent Investments and Sustainability Initiatives

Prior to this acquisition, Lomond made significant investments to expand its Port Dundas headquarters.

The company doubled its storage capacity to 4,000 pallets in the 36,000 square feet warehouse.

Barbara Henderson highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability: “We have added roof space for solar panels which will increase our renewable energy capacity by 30%.”

“We have also added electric charging points for our fleet of electric cars which takes us closer to our net zero goal.

“We are also halfway through our accreditation to become B-Corp accredited, which is a real priority for us as a business.”

Future Plans

Lomond: The Wholesale Food Co, founded 28 years ago by Sam and Barbara Henderson, has evolved from servicing the lunchtime market to becoming a key player in the food wholesale sector.

The company supplies various sectors, including education, convenience food-to-go, and hospitality venues across the UK.

Looking ahead to 2025, Lomond is partnering with ScotHot, Scotland’s premier showcase for food, drink, hospitality, retail, and tourism buyers.

The event, scheduled for February 26-27, 2025, at SEC Glasgow, will feature Lomond hosting the B2B element and showcasing products to over 2,000 visitors.

This acquisition and the company’s ongoing initiatives demonstrate Lomond’s commitment to growth, sustainability, and strengthening its position in Scotland’s thriving food and hospitality industry.

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