Delifresh plans expansion with new facility and job growth

April Lara
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Delifresh plans expansion with new facility and job growth

Delifresh, a Bradford-based food service supplier, is expanding its operations following a funding boost from HSBC UK. The company is moving into a new 80,000 sq ft facility in Bradford, where it plans to implement cutting-edge systems to enhance its operations.

The £1 million investment will fund the complete fit-out of the new premises, which will feature advanced pick-and-pack technology, energy-efficient chilling systems, and an upgraded enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. These improvements streamline productivity, maintain high-quality standards, and enhance the customer experience.

Founded in 2002, Delifresh supplies restaurants, hotels, and independent food service businesses across the UK. The company expects its workforce, currently at 417 employees, to grow as it expands its geographical reach and increases turnover over the next 12 months. Investment will also go towards upgrading its fleet to meet growing demand.

The additional funding will give Delifresh the flexibility to better meet the needs of its clients in the competitive hospitality sector, helping the business stay responsive as it scales operations.

virtualDCS strengthens leadership team following private equity firm’s investment

Tess Egginton
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virtualDCS strengthens leadership team following private equity firm’s investment
Cloud hosting and cyber resilience specialist virtualDCS has revealed a new senior leadership team as it enters its next growth phase, backed by investment from private equity firm MonacoSol. Newly appointed chief executive officer (CEO) Alex Wilmot will lead the company’s next chapter, succeeding original founder Richard May, who transitions into product development director, continuing the ongoing solution innovation. Alex brings over 20 years of experience in managed services, strategic transformation, and sales growth. Having held senior leadership roles at Ingram Micro, Redcentric, and Daisy, he has a proven track record of scaling businesses and driving innovation. Under Alex’s leadership, virtualDCS will strengthen its technical capabilities while evolving its sales strategy to deliver more outcome-driven solutions for its clients. Alex believes virtualDCS’ data integrity-driven managed services are the key differentiator in an increasingly competitive market, and will be central to the company’s continued success. Commenting on his appointment, Alex said: “I’m thrilled to be joining virtualDCS – a business renowned for its expertise in data integrity, data protection, and cyber resilience – at this point in its journey. Its portfolio of services couldn’t be more relevant for organisations looking to protect their data against the growing threats entering the landscape every day. “With MonacoSol’s backing, we’re building on an already exceptional proposition while accelerating our ability to scale. As Richard and John move into their new roles, we’re able to retain their invaluable industry expertise, providing continuity as we move forward at pace.” Dan Nichols, a co-founder of virtualDCS, has also returned as chief technology officer (CTO) after more than a decade leading technology teams at Sleek Networks, Secura Hosting, and WebContractor. In his role, Dan is focused on strengthening virtualDCS’s technology partnerships and streamlining transactions as the company scales. Meanwhile, former CTO and fellow co-founder John Murray has transitioned to solutions director, where he will continue to work closely with clients to build long-term partnerships. “We’re a business built on trust, and I want to ensure we continue delivering the level of service our customers expect while broadening our technological capabilities,” Dan said. “We’ll be modernising our offerings, expanding our resilience-focused solutions, and working with the right partners to enhance our services.” Joining as chief revenue officer (CRO), Kieran Brady brings over 40 years of experience in sales leadership at major telecom and IT firms, including BT, Capita, Deutsche Telekom, Gamma, and Redcentric. Kieran is passionate about fostering high-performance sales teams through a coaching-first approach. “My priority is ensuring we deeply understand customer needs and provide solutions tailored to their business continuity and cyber resilience requirements,” Kieran said. “We’ll use AI-driven insights to target the right customers and continue building a team to deliver best-in-class service. Customers and colleagues are my joint priority because having the right team enables us to provide industry-leading services.” The leadership changes follow MonacoSol’s acquisition of a majority stake in virtualDCS.

Long Sutton dental practice sold to expanding group

Tess Egginton
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Long Sutton dental practice sold to expanding group
Long Sutton Dentistry in Lincolnshire has been sold to an expanding group. Set up by the previous owners, Kenny Doig, Jez Hyland, and Sam Wright, in 2013, it is located in the market town of Long Sutton, near Boston and Spalding in South Lincolnshire. Over the last 12 years, it has grown into a four-surgery practice and become a mainstay for the local community. The practice was brought to market to allow the sellers to concentrate on their other business interests. Following a confidential sales process with Tom Morley at Christie & Co, it has been sold to The Dental Design Studio. Dr Kenny Doig, former owner of Long Sutton Dentistry, said: “It’s reassuring to know that our staff and patients are in excellent hands, thanks to DDS’s outstanding track record of professionalism and expertise. The trust and confidence we feel stems directly from their proven capabilities. “We would like to express our appreciation for Jeff and Larry, who made every interaction a pleasure. Their approachability and professionalism ensured the process was not just straightforward but truly instilled confidence that we had made the correct decision to sell to a group rather than a large corporate.” Dr Jeffrey Sherer, Clinical Director at The Dental Design Studio, said: “We’re very happy to have acquired Long Sutton – our twenty-second dental practice. It is a fantastic practice with a great team, and we are so pleased to have it as part of our group.” Tom Morley, Associate Director – Dental at Christie & Co, said: “It was a pleasure to represent, Jez, Kenny, and Sam in the sale of Long Sutton, and I wish Larry and Jeff all the best with their new acquisition. Another successful sale in the East Midlands demonstrates to the market that quality private practices are continually acquired by aspirational groups.” Long Sutton Dentistry was sold for an undisclosed price.

Proposal for Chinese supermarket on Scarborough’s Falsgrave Road

April Lara
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Proposal for Chinese supermarket on Scarborough’s Falsgrave Road

A new Chinese supermarket could be established on Falsgrave Road in Scarborough, pending approval from North Yorkshire Council. Mrs Wen Zhu Chen is proposing converting a ground-floor office at 29–31 Falsgrave Road into a retail space selling Chinese food products and decorations.

Located near Sainsbury’s and within walking distance of Scarborough railway station, the site would offer various Chinese products, including packaged snacks, frozen seafood, and decorative items. Mrs Chen cited a lack of such products in the area, noting growing demand for Chinese goods among local consumers.

The plans indicate no need for external or internal alterations to the property. The shop’s location near the town centre, with easy access to transport links, is expected to help attract customers, benefiting both the business and the local economy.

The council has not yet set a date to decide on the application, which is still open for public consultation.

Sheffield training group diversifies with acquisition

Tess Egginton
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Sheffield training group diversifies with acquisition
Sheffield-based Realise Training Group, backed by Endless’ Enact fund, has taken a step forward in its buy-and-build strategy with its acquisition of Smart Gas Training and Assessment Centre, based in Derbyshire. The announcement marks the next phase of its journey, as Realise formalises a new group structure and strategy, broadens its commercial offerings and diversifies into another regulated employment sector. The move comes at a time when regulatory and policy changes, brought in by the government, are driving demand for upskilling in key sectors, including more heavily regulated apprenticeship sectors linked to unlocking UK economic growth. It also aligns with the £600 million investment into the training of up to 60,000 skilled construction workers, announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement. Gregg Scott, CEO of Realise Training Group, said: “We are committed to not just off-the-shelf products such as apprenticeships, skills bootcamps or adult skills, but to being a fully integrated training solutions business. We listen to the training problems of organisations and our teams create a bespoke solution. “As well as supporting investment in green energy and the push for net zero through our Smart Gas acquisition, we are continuing to focus on reducing economic inactivity and promoting social mobility throughout the UK.” Paul Denvers, partner at Endless, said: “We are delighted to see how Realise is going from strength to strength and entering new markets within the apprenticeship and adult education sector. “Expanding into additional regulated employment markets will help bring more learners into the high demand sectors, as well as continuing to support quality delivery in the critical infrastructure sectors we are well established in.” The Smart Gas acquisition was supported with advice from James Cook from Womble Bond Dickinson, Russ Cahill from Tax Advisory Partnership and Paul Fox from Fox Lloyd Jones. Realise recently secured a multi-million-pound facility from OakNorth.

Scarborough and Filey food festivals to boost local economy

April Lara
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Scarborough and Filey food festivals to boost local economy

Scarborough is set to host a new food and drink festival to attract thousands of visitors and support local businesses. Scheduled for April 12-13 at the Open Air Theatre, the event will feature 50 independent vendors offering various products, from international cuisines to handcrafted goods. The festival is designed to strengthen Scarborough’s position as a year-round tourist destination, with local traders benefiting from exposure to both regional and national audiences.

Crofts Chocolates, a local business that sees such events as vital for growth, is among the participants. Their participation highlights how food festivals can serve as valuable marketing platforms for small enterprises.

The festival is expected to contribute to the local economy, encouraging earlier-season visits and adding to Scarborough Open Air Theatre’s £8.5 million impact on the area last year. Scarborough’s tourism sector, which generates £561 million annually, plays a crucial role in the local economy, with over 3.8 million visitors and 5,600 jobs tied to the industry.

In addition, the Filey Food Festival will return this year with multiple dates, further driving foot traffic to the region and complementing Scarborough’s efforts to extend its tourism season.

Legal challenge to UK’s Jet Zero strategy heads to High Court

April Lara
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Legal challenge to UK’s Jet Zero strategy heads to High Court

A judicial review of the UK government’s Jet Zero strategy will be heard in the High Court from 1–4 April. The challenge, brought by the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA), questions the feasibility of achieving net zero aviation emissions by 2050 through alternative fuels and emerging technologies.

Jet Zero, introduced in 2022 and retained by the current Labour government, promotes biofuels, hydrogen, carbon capture, and aircraft efficiency improvements to decarbonise aviation. However, independent experts—including the Royal Society and industry consultants—argue that sustainable aviation fuels remain scarce and costly, while hydrogen and electric flight face significant technological and economic hurdles.

The Climate Change Committee has labelled Jet Zero a “high-risk” strategy and warned that aviation growth targets are incompatible with net zero commitments. Despite these concerns, airport expansion projects are still being considered, raising questions about the UK’s long-term approach to aviation sustainability.

McLaren Construction Midlands and North completes the UK’s largest cold store facility

Michael Fisher
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McLaren Construction Midlands and North completes the UK’s largest cold store facility

McLaren Construction Midlands and North is proud to announce the successful completion of the UK’s largest cold store facility, developed for Magnavale Ltd, one of the country’s leading temperature controlled warehouse and value added service providers.

The fully automated facility stands at 47 metres tall with a capacity for 101,000 pallets and represents a significant milestone in logistics and sustainable storage solutions.

Located near Grantham, the purpose-built, rack-clad automated cold store has been designed to support Magnavale’s goal of creating Europe’s most efficient cold storage facility, operating at a standard temperature of -200C. The 474,283 sq. ft. development can function at temperatures as low as -28°C and is powered entirely by renewable energy, reinforcing Magnavale’s commitment to sustainability.

The facility features a five-storey office space, extensive external yards, an HGV marshalling area, and a large staff car park. Additionally, cutting-edge refrigeration plant ensures that the storage chamber maintains optimal conditions for frozen food products from leading retailers.

The construction of the project presented a range of unique challenges. The facility was delivered while maintaining 24/7 access to the adjacent McCain food production facility, alongside another existing cold storage unit and water treatment processing works, while ensuring minimal disruption to operations and a water treatment facility. Extensive demolition and controlled waste removal was required to clear the site, which was previously home to an iron ore drift mine. The project team also had to divert and relay multiple services and utilities across the site.

An external gantry system was used to accommodate certain services instead of traditional underground installations due to space constraints. The construction incorporated a contractor-designed steel fibre slab, eliminating the need for more than 20 steel fixers on-site, while an on-site gas generator was refurbished to provide 1.45MW of power. Due to the size of concrete pours, an on-site concrete batching plant was incorporated into the build, to eliminate issues with delivery delays.

Cirata shares rise as revenue grows and losses narrow

April Lara
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Cirata shares rise as revenue grows and losses narrow

Cirata shares rose by up to 9% after the cloud analytics firm reported a 15% increase in revenue and a significant reduction in losses for 2024. Despite the gains, the stock remains down 70% over the past year.

The Sheffield-based company posted $7.7 million in revenue, while losses fell to $13.5 million, less than half of the previous year’s figure. Cirata also secured a $2 million contract with a top-three US bank for its Live Data Migrator platform and announced partnerships with IBM, Databricks, and Oracle.

Following a financial misstatement that led to a rebrand and restructuring, CEO Stephen Kelly said the company had moved from “rescue to recovery” and was now focused on long-term growth.

Cirata remains under investigation by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regarding its past financial reporting, but no liability has been recorded.

Benchmark sells genetics business for £260m

April Lara
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Benchmark sells genetics business for £260m

Sheffield-based aquaculture biotech firm Benchmark has finalised the sale of its genetics division to Novo Holdings for £260m. The deal, initially reported in November 2024, includes an upfront payment of £230m and contingent consideration of up to £30m.

For the year ending 30 June 2024, the genetics business generated £57m in revenue and £14.5m in adjusted EBITDA. As of 30 June 2024, its net assets stood at £52.8m.

After adjustments related to cash, debt, and working capital, Benchmark expects to receive approximately £194m in gross cash proceeds, excluding potential earn-out payments.

Following the repayment of £63m for Benchmark’s unsecured green bond and £23.75m under its revolving credit facility, net cash proceeds are expected to total £107.5m. Benchmark will disclose further details on its ongoing strategy and use of proceeds in mid-April.

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