Parfetts has grown its symbol estate in the south to 41 stores just a year after opening its Southampton depot, as the wholesaler pushes further into London and the south-east.
The employee-owned wholesaler opened Southampton as its ninth depot, giving it a base to serve independent retailers across the south coast and Greater London. The expansion has included the opening of the first Go Local Extra store in London.
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Parfetts has also built a delivered wholesale operation from the depot, with more than 500 active customers. Its delivery footprint now covers around 29 postcode areas, stretching from Dorchester and Bath in the west to Southend, Kent and East Sussex.
The operation is supported by eight retail development advisers and two area managers based at Southampton. Parfetts is recruiting additional staff as it seeks to grow its symbol presence across the region.
Guy Swindell, joint managing director of Parfetts, said Southampton had given the wholesaler the base it needed to build its business across the south. “In its first year we have grown to 41 fascia stores, opened our first Go Local Extra in London and built a delivery operation serving hundreds of independent retailers every week.”
