JJ Food Service acquires Sykes Seafood's local delivery operation

20 September 2016 by Katie Pathiaki

JJ Food Service has purchased the local delivery operation of wholesale food specialist Sykes Seafood for an undisclosed sum.

The Sykes delivery department, which is based in Manchester, will now trade under the JJ Food Service name but will retain its staff and customer base.

The acquisition, which covers the distribution arm's vehicles and telesales operation, comes as part of JJ Food Service's ongoing initiative to develop its seafood customer base.

Managing director of JJ Food Service, Mustafa Kiamil, said: "We have for some time admired the Sykes business and its long history of supplying the North West with the highest quality ranges of fish and seafood. We feel this purchase is complementary to the aims of both businesses and dovetails into the other product categories that JJ is supplying day in and day out to the fish and chip sector."

Alan Dale, managing director of Sykes Seafoods, added: "The profile and mix of the Sykes business has changed over the last number of years and our focus has shifted towards developing both new and existing production facilities so we can become a truly integrated supplier and producer of all types of Seafood. In many respects a local end user delivery service in some ways conflicted with our larger group customers, particularly within the foodservice sector, and so reaching agreement with JJ Food Service is a great outcome for both parties as it gives greater focus in both businesses to the areas they wish to grow. In our case that means production facilities, foodservice customers, manufacturers and retailers."

Both companies are hoping to complete the transition by 1 October.

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