Export awards for Abra Wholesale and Squirrels UK

Two wholesalers have received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for international trade: Abra Wholesale, which operates from cash & carries in Edmonton, north London, and Luton, and Squirrels UK, also of Luton, part of the Kitwave Wholesale group.

Abra Wholesale depot

Leading export markets for Landmark Wholesale member Abra are West Africa, East Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf states, its major commodities being toiletries, household cleaners and soft drinks. The fastest-growing sector is grocery.

Company spokesman David Gilroy said: “Everybody here has worked very hard to develop our export markets, particularly with British brands. We intend to expand this side of our business.”

The cash & carry/wholesaler was recognised as a Sunday Times Fast Track company in 2014 and 2015 and was last year included among the 1,000 London Stock Exchange concerns ‘to inspire Britain’.

Squirrels UK’s award was in recognition of ‘outstanding growth in export sales over the past three years’.

The business started in 1970 from a market stall in Walthamstow, east London, selling branded food products at discount prices and it now claims to be one of the leading distributors of food and drink to the discount sector.

The company exports a wide range of ambient food, including grocery, confectionery, biscuits and soft drinks, as well as a selection of own-brand products under the Thurstons Fine Foods name. The plan is to increase export sales by a 50% a year over the next five years. Managing director is David Yolland and sales director Nathan Glover.

Kitwave Wholesale comprises 11 companies operating from 15 sites and with around 500 employees.

Tel: Abra Wholesale 020-8887 9303

Tel: Squirrels UK (01708) 344666

Published Date: April 28, 2016
Category: Wholesale Industry News