Henderson expands foodservice subsidiary through acquisition

Henderson Foodservice, a division of the Henderson Group of retail companies, has acquired a counterpart with distribution depots in Lisburn and Ashbourne.

The move adds Foodco's fleet of multi-temperature vehicles and expands Henderson's offering to foodservice customers across the island of Ireland.

Foodco will continue to operate as a standalone business with the existing management and board, and will retain its corporate name and identity.

The acquisition forms part of Newtonabbey-based Henderson Foodservice's expansion strategy, which includes a £25m investment in new facilities, staff and business development.

Cathal Geoghegan, managing director of Henderson Foodservice, described the acquisition as an "exciting opportunity to complement the growth and development in the foodservice sector for both companies".

He said: "The acquisition occurs at an exciting time for us as a business. Following a record-breaking turnover in 2018, we're delighted to welcome the staff and management of Foodco into our company portfolio.

"Foodco is a terrific company with a strong reputation and loyal customer base and we look forward to supporting the FoodCo team in solidifying their synergy with customers and suppliers."

The Foodco board - Alan Kelly, Gary McIlroy, Barry Monaghan and Robert Walsh - added: "This is a great opportunity for the staff and ourselves to continue the expansion of the business by being part of one of the largest foodservice companies in Ireland, Henderson Foodservice.

"We have developed our business through excellent customer service, product innovation and strong personal relationships. Being a part of Henderson Group will copper fasten this and provide us with a strong platform to continue our growth throughout Ireland"