A.F. Blakemore has purchased online vegan products wholesaler and retailer Vegan Store as part of a strategy to diversify its portfolio of brands whilst adding a purely online division to its structure.
Vegan Store claims to be the UK’s first independent retailer of vegan products online and stocks vegan food, drink, healthcare and beauty lines. As part of the agreement, founder Lisa Ruskin will be joining the wholesaler in a consultative role.
Blakemore group commercial managing mirector 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.
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“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,” he added. “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.”
