Herefordshire Business News: Hereford wholesaler expands its portfolio (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire Business News: Hereford wholesaler expands its portfolio

3:40pm Thursday 26th April 2012 in Business By Mark Bowen

A HEREFORD wholesaler has expanded its portfolio of convenience stores.

The C J Bradbury Group expanded its business by purchasing eight convenience stores across the region, many of which required extensive refurbishment and financing.

The most recent store purchased was Redhill Stores in Hereford, which was added to the portfolio using a £50,000 Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial.

Hannah Alexander, relationship manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial, said: “The company presented a strategic business plan based upon a solid foundation of previous growth and success.

"C J Bradbury has purchased stores that would have otherwise had to close, saving jobs and keeping a necessary facility open to the local community."

The group was established by owner Craig Bradbury in 2005 when he bought an existing confectionary wholesale business.

Over the years it has evolved to provide items including food and drink products, and this area of the business now delivers a £2.5million turnover and has a fleet of vans and offices plus two 900 sq ft warehouses.

An EFG loan is available to SMEs seeking finance for investment and growth that do not have the adequate security for a normal commercial loan.