What Kitwave Group does

Kitwave Group is a UK delivered wholesale business that supplies ambient, frozen, chilled, fresh, butchery, alcohol, tobacco and non-food products to independent retailers, foodservice operators, public houses, vending operators and other wholesalers. Founded in 1987 in North Shields following the acquisition of a single-site confectionery wholesale business, the group operates a nationwide depot network of 37 locations (8 main stock-holding and 22 satellite depots) supported by a fleet of approximately 650 delivery vehicles, fulfilling 4,800-6,500 orders per day with over 98% on-time-in-full service. Kitwave organises activity through a Retail and Wholesale division (multiple trading brands including Automatic Retailing, M&M Value, Squirrels, Eden Farm, Hulleys, Turner & Wrights, Bishops, Teatime Tasties, Westone Wholesale) and a Foodservice and On-Trade division (HB Clark, Central Supplies, M.J. Baker, WestCountry, Total Foodservice, Creed, Alpine Fine Foods, Wilds of Oldham, Miller Food Service).

The core technology stack comprises in-house ERP and warehouse management systems (including a new WMS at the 165,000 sq ft Wakefield site), multi-channel order capture spanning EDI, an award-winning e-commerce website, mobile ordering app, telesales, email ordering and electronic rep ordering, and an in-house post-mix soft drinks production facility (InFAMous Soft Drinks) at Wakefield. Customer relationships are served by a direct sales force of 300 reps, depot walk-in membership, and a global export team shipping 40,000+ product lines to China, USA, Europe, Australia, Middle East and Canada.

The revenue model is primarily transactional per-delivery wholesale across more than 39,000 mainly independent customers, supplemented by own-brand production (Thurston's Fine Foods, Bakers Best Buy, InFAMous), the My Store fascia/retail club programme, and shared buying power via the Country Range Group (CRG) membership from July 2024. Group revenue grew from £193m in 2013 to £663.7m in FY2024, with the platform pro forma at over £800m following the September 2024 Creed acquisition; the company was admitted to AIM in May 2021 (£82m raise at £105m valuation) and was taken private by OEP Capital Advisers via Kite UK Bidco Limited in March 2026 for £251m.

Name

Kitwave Group

Legal name

Kitwave Group Limited

Website

https://kitwave.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Kitwave Group is a UK delivered wholesale business supplying ambient, frozen, chilled, alcohol, tobacco and non-food products to 39,000+ independent retailers, foodservice operators and on-trade customers via 37 depots, 650 vehicles and multi-channel ordering, with own-brand production and global exports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

North Shields

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Delivered Wholesale Distribution: Core revenue from sale of food, beverages, confectionery, tobacco, impulse products and consumables to retail, wholesale and foodservice customers; transaction-based on each delivered order; customer base of c.39,000+ independent customers, 4,800+ deliveries per day
2. Global Export Sales: Direct export of ambient food, drinks, confectionery, grocery, biscuits and soft drinks (including own brand Thurston's Fine Foods) to China, USA, Europe, Australia, Middle East and Canada; sales handled through dedicated export team
3. Own-brand and Bespoke Production: Revenue from in-house soft drinks post-mix production (InFAMous Soft Drinks) and own-label product lines such as Bakers Best Buy and Thurston's Fine Foods
4. Buying-group Membership Revenue Share: As Country Range Group (CRG) member since July 2024, Kitwave's foodservice division benefits from shared buying power, own-brand portfolio, marketing campaigns and promotions; revenue uplift shared across CRG members

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kitwave Group is a UK delivered wholesale business supplying ambient, frozen, chilled and fresh foods, butchery, alcohol, soft drinks, confectionery, tobacco and impulse products to independent retailers, foodservice operators, public houses, restaurants, cafes, leisure centres, vending operators and the wholesale trade via a nationwide network of depots. The group operates two divisions — Retail & Wholesale and Foodservice & On-Trade — and runs a complementary global export business and an own-brand manufacturing line for post-mix soft drinks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eden Farm: Frozen food and ice cream wholesale and distribution brand within the Kitwave Frozen & Chilled division.
• H.B. Clark
• Creed (Creed Foodservice)
• M&M Value
• Automatic Retailing
• Teatime Tasties
• WestCountry (WestCountry Food)
• Central Supplies
• Squirrels UK (Thurston's Fine Foods)
• Turner & Wrights
• Bishops
• Westone Wholesale
• Cumbria Confectionery
• Miller Food Service (David Miller Frozen Foods)
• Wilds of Oldham
• Total Foodservice
• Thurston's Fine Foods
• Bakers Best Buy
• My Store (Retail Club / Fascia)

Products and services

• Retail and Wholesale Group Delivered wholesale supply of ambient, frozen, chilled and fresh foods, alcohol, soft drinks, confectionery, tobacco and impulse products to independent retailers, convenience stores, CTNs and wholesale customers across the UK. Operated through nationwide depots serving the off-trade and cash-and-carry trade.
• Foodservice and On-Trade Division Delivered wholesale of food, beverage and consumable products to on-trade operators including public houses, restaurants, cafes, hotels, leisure centres, education and care sector caterers, and vending operators across the UK.
• H.B. Clark (on-trade alcohol and soft drinks wholesale) Delivered wholesale supplier of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks to public houses and on-trade operators.
• Eden Farm (frozen food and ice cream wholesale) Delivered wholesale distributor of frozen food, ice cream and chilled products to independent retailers and foodservice operators.
• Creed Foodservice Delivered foodservice wholesaler supplying ambient, chilled and frozen ingredients to restaurants, hotels, schools, care homes and other caterers.
• Squirrels UK (discount sector and own-brand exports) Discount-channel wholesale supplier operating in the discount retail sector with parallel export activity under own-label brands including Thurston's Fine Foods and Bakers Best Buy.
• Global Export Services Worldwide export of ambient, frozen and chilled grocery, beverage and impulse products to international customers including overseas wholesalers, ship chandlers and ex-patriot trade accounts.
• Country Range Group Membership Membership of the Country Range Group buying consortium, giving Kitwave Group customers access to the Country Range own-label food and beverage range through its foodservice depots.
• My Store Retail Club (fascia programme) Fascia and symbol retail programme for independent retailers offering a branded store identity, marketing support and access to Kitwave's delivered wholesale range.
• InFAMous Soft Drinks (own-label post-mix) In-house production of own-label post-mix soft drinks supplied to foodservice and on-trade customers within the Kitwave Group.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 98% on-time-in-full deliveries across nationwide network
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core - financial adviser to kitwave on the oep take-private transaction; also advised on 2021 aim ipo, core - financial adviser to the acquiring entities (kite uk bidco limited / oep) on the £251m take-private transaction, core - legal adviser supporting the £71m creed foodservice acquisition by kitwave, expanding the foodservice division, flagship - foodservice division joined as newest crg member on 15 july 2024, gaining access to crg's buying power, analysis, data and insights, three-tiered own brand portfolio and wide-ranging marketing campaigns, minor - public endorsement by crg ceo on kitwave joining as member, minor - one of the legal advisers on the 2021 aim ipo of kitwave group on london stock exchange, minor - charity partnership; cfo david brind led 100-mile coastal hike and 60,000 step challenge for bhf heart of the tyne campaign, core - h.b. clark division achieved 268 installs across bud light, budweiser and stella 4.8% during 2017, winning abi wep awards gold for marketing programmes, minor - ceremonial recognition of squirrels uk with 2016 queen's award; winners invited to buckingham palace reception, flagship - longstanding corporate finance and due diligence adviser across multiple transactions including 2016 refinancing, 2019 acquisitions, and 2021 ipo and flagship - north east commercial law firm advising on all major transactions including 2016 refinancing, 2019 acquisitions, 2021 ipo, 2024 creed acquisition.

• Canaccord Genuitycore - financial adviser to kitwave on the oep take-private transaction; also advised on 2021 aim ipoImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 January 2026Canaccord Genuity served as financial adviser to Kitwave during the £251m acquisition by Kite UK Bidco Limited. Also advised Kitwave's 2021 IPO on AIM as part of the deal team alongside Muckle LLP, KPMG, Howard Kennedy and Akin Gump.
• Moeliscore - financial adviser to the acquiring entities (kite uk bidco limited / oep) on the £251m take-private transactionImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 January 2026Moelis advised the acquiring entities (Kite UK Bidco Limited) in the £251m cash acquisition of Kitwave Group. Implementation via UK scheme of arrangement under Companies Act 2006.
• North East Law Firm (Creed Acquisition)core - legal adviser supporting the £71m creed foodservice acquisition by kitwave, expanding the foodservice divisionImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 9 October 2024A North East law firm supported Kitwave's acquisition of Creed Foodservice for up to £71m. The deal expanded Kitwave's Foodservice division and enhanced its geographical presence, supported by a capital raise and bank funding.
• Country Range Group (CRG)flagship - foodservice division joined as newest crg member on 15 july 2024, gaining access to crg's buying power, analysis, data and insights, three-tiered own brand portfolio and wide-ranging marketing campaignsStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2024Country Range Group (CRG) welcomed Kitwave's foodservice division as its newest member as of 15 July 2024. Kitwave will benefit from CRG's buying power, analysis, data and insights, formidable three-tiered own brand portfolio and marketing campaigns. CRG CEO Martin Ward said the business will be a great fit.
• Martin Ward (Country Range Group CEO)minor - public endorsement by crg ceo on kitwave joining as memberGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 July 2024Country Range Group Chief Executive Martin Ward publicly welcomed the Kitwave team on their membership of the buying group, citing alignment on customer service ethos.
• Howard Kennedyminor - one of the legal advisers on the 2021 aim ipo of kitwave group on london stock exchangeImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 24 May 2021Howard Kennedy acted as one of the legal advisers on Kitwave's IPO on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in May 2021, alongside Muckle LLP, KPMG, Canaccord Genuity and Akin Gump.
• Akin Gumpminor - one of the legal advisers on the 2021 aim ipo of kitwave group on london stock exchangeImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 24 May 2021Akin Gump acted as one of the legal advisers on Kitwave's IPO on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in May 2021, alongside Muckle LLP, KPMG, Canaccord Genuity and Howard Kennedy.
• British Heart Foundation (BHF) - Heart of the Tyne Campaignminor - charity partnership; cfo david brind led 100-mile coastal hike and 60,000 step challenge for bhf heart of the tyne campaignGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 October 2020Kitwave Group partnered with the British Heart Foundation on the Heart of the Tyne campaign. CFO David Brind, a 2017 cardiac arrest survivor, co-founded the campaign to improve heart health awareness across the business community. Muckle LLP and TMP Wealth Management also support the campaign.
• Budweiser / Bud Light / Stella 4.8% Brand Partners (ABI)core - h.b. clark division achieved 268 installs across bud light, budweiser and stella 4.8% during 2017, winning abi wep awards gold for marketing programmesOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 16 May 2018H.B. Clark (Kitwave's on-trade wholesaler) partnered with AB InBev brands (Budweiser, Bud Light, Stella 4.8%) and achieved the highest number of installs in 2017, winning the Gold award for Marketing Programmes at the ABI Wep Awards.
• HM The Queen / Buckingham Palaceminor - ceremonial recognition of squirrels uk with 2016 queen's award; winners invited to buckingham palace receptionOthers · 21 April 2016Squirrels UK received the 2016 Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade; one of 249 Queen's Awards announced that year. Winners invited to attend a special reception at Buckingham Palace and authorised to use the Queen's Award Emblem in advertising, marketing and packaging for five years.
• KPMG Corporate Financeflagship - longstanding corporate finance and due diligence adviser across multiple transactions including 2016 refinancing, 2019 acquisitions, and 2021 ipoImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 March 2016KPMG Corporate Finance (Rod Wilkinson) advised Kitwave shareholders on the 2016 refinancing; provided deal advisory. Also advised on Central Supplies and Alpine Fine Foods acquisitions in 2019. KPMG Debt Advisory and KPMG Tax Advisory also supported the 2016 transaction. KPMG has been a longstanding adviser to Kitwave.
• Muckle LLPflagship - north east commercial law firm advising on all major transactions including 2016 refinancing, 2019 acquisitions, 2021 ipo, 2024 creed acquisitionImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 March 2016Muckle LLP (Hugh Welch, Senior Partner) advised Kitwave shareholders on the 2016 refinancing; also advised on the 2021 AIM IPO and the 2024 Creed Foodservice acquisition. Hugh Welch said 'This is a great deal for Kitwave and for the North East.' Muckle was named most active North East dealmaker in 2014 and 2015.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Booker Group: UK's largest delivered wholesaler and cash-and-carry operator, wholly owned by Tesco since 2018. Direct overlap with Kitwave in retail and foodservice delivery, but at materially greater scale and with Tesco buying-power advantages.
• Brakes Group: Major UK foodservice wholesaler (Sysco-owned) operating Brakes, Country Choice and other delivered brands across the same hospitality, education and care channels Kitwave targets with Creed and WestCountry.
• Sysco Great Britain: US foodservice giant Sysco's UK business (encompassing Brakes, Fresh Direct, KFF) competes across hospitality, education and care — broader and larger than Kitwave's foodservice brands, but operating in the same channel and customer verticals.

Direct peers

• Dhamecha Cash & Carry: UK independent cash-and-carry and delivered wholesale operator with 12+ depots serving independent retailers, CTNs and catering customers — comparable depot-and-delivery model and customer base to Kitwave's ambient and confectionery sub-brands.
• Parfetts: Employee-owned delivered wholesaler and symbol group operator (Go Local, etc.) with depots across the North and Midlands, competing directly with Kitwave for the same independent retailer customer base in grocery, alcohol and impulse.
• AF Blakemore & Son: Family-owned wholesale and SPAR convenience distribution group operating across retail and foodservice; the SPAR fascia supply and delivered wholesale business is a close parallel to Kitwave's My Store Retail Club and Squirrels independent retailer offering.
• Bestway Wholesale: One of the UK's largest independent wholesale groups (Bestway, Batleys, Blakemore, Palmer & Harvey successor businesses) serving symbol retailers, foodservice and on-trade customers via depots and delivered operations. Closest like-for-like competitor to Kitwave in scale and customer mix.
• Philip Dennis Foodservice: UK regional foodservice wholesaler serving the South West and Wales with depot-based delivered supply to independent caterers — directly comparable to Kitwave's M.J. Baker and WestCountry regional foodservice operations.
• Bidfood: UK's leading delivered foodservice wholesaler (part of Bidcorp) operating 25+ depots serving pubs, restaurants, schools, care homes and leisure. Directly comparable to Kitwave's Creed, Total Foodservice, M.J. Baker and HB Clark foodservice brands.
• Confex: UK buying and marketing group for independent delivered wholesalers (Turner Price, Cotswold Fayre, many regional delivered operators); a structural peer to Kitwave given its focus on consolidating independent wholesaler buying power and own-brand ranges.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kitwave-group-plc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A11 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kitwave Group