Nisbets is multinational distributor to the food-service sector.[1][2] The company develops, retails and distributes commercial kitchen equipment, catering supplies and other hospitality products and services to hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes, schools and colleges.[3] Nisbets is majority owned by Bunzl.[4]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commercial Catering |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Andrew Nisbet |
| Headquarters | Avonmouth, Bristol |
| Products | Catering equipment, Own-brand goods, Online, Mail order, Retail |
| Owner |
|
Number of employees | 1,800 |
| Website | www |
History
editNisbets was founded by Andrew Nisbet in 1983.[5] It started out selling knives, catering clothing and textbooks to catering colleges, building on the business of Nisbet’s father, Peter Nisbet, which provided catering kits to colleges in South West England.
In 1987, the company launched its first mail-order catalogue, selling products to students and trade customers.[6] Nisbets acquired catering wholesaler Red Ball in 1990, which was rebranded as RB Distributors, and enabled the company to start wholesaling to shops and other retailers for the first time.[7]
By 1995, the company stocked 8,000 products for next-day delivery.[6] The business opened its first non-UK office in 1996 in Cork, Republic of Ireland.
In 2000, Nisbets opened an office in the Netherlands, the company's first physical presence outside of the British Isles. The new office was responsible for mail-order sales of Nisbet products in Holland and Belgium.[8] Nisbets opened offices in France in 2005 and Spain in 2007 with further offices in Germany, Belgium and Portugal.[8]
In 2010, six years after relocating to new, larger premises in Avonmouth, Bristol,[9] the firm acquired Caterers Warehouse,[8] an established Australian catering retailer, and Pages, a catering retail outlet on Shaftesbury Avenue, London - the company's first retail shop.[10] Between 2010 and 2017, Nisbets opened 29 stores across the UK, focusing on major cities and towns.
In 2016, the firm acquired microwave distributor Bradshaw Microwave,[11] linen manufacturer Mitre Linen and a stake in commercial fit out and restaurant furniture manufacturer Space Group.[12] The following year, it was listed as the 58th fastest growing company in the UK.[13]
In 2017, the year in which it won The Queen's Award for Enterprise[14] and claimed to have 12 retail outlets in Australia,[15] In the same year, it opened its flagship store and showroom, the National Catering Equipment Centre (NCEC), the largest of its kind in the UK.[16]
In 2022 Nisbets acquired three companies - UK Engineers, a specialist in the servicing and repair of catering equipment; Jongor Hire, a provider of temporary catering equipment and furniture and Beaumont, a renowned manufacturer & supplier of barware.[17] Also in 2022, Nisbets appointed three independent non-executive directors to its Board.[18]
On 26 February 2024, the Nisbet family agreed to sell an 80% stake in their catering equipment firm, Nisbets, to Bunzl for £339 million, in a deal valuing the company at over £500 million.[4] On May 28, 2024, it was announced that Bunzl had completed its acquisition of the firm.[19]
Operations
editIn August 2023, Nisbets is an omnichannel, offering for customers globally, with 17 localised websites.[20] The company has its main European distribution centre in Avonmouth, Bristol and Chepstow, UK, with other centres in Cork, Ireland; Auckland, New Zealand, and Campbelltown, Leppington and New South Wales, Australia.[21] Nisbets also operates two sourcing centres in India and China. There are also four fulfilment warehouses in Avonmouth.
References
edit- ^ "Catering equipment supplier's founder cooks up plan for £500m windfall". Sky News. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Nisbets to officially open customer showroom in Cork". echo live. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Europe's largest catering equipment supplier Nisbets launches latest store". Yorkshire. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ a b Williams, Holly (26 February 2024). "Nisbet family agrees £339m sale to Bunzl". Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "Turnover passes £200m at Nisbets". Insider Media Ltd. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Nisbets founder reveals secrets of success". Catering Insight. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Catering for demand". Catering Insight. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ a b c "Our Story". www.nisbets.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Prime freehold warehouse investment" (PDF). WGH Property.
- ^ "Lifetime Achievement Award: Andrew Nisbet" (PDF). Direct Commerce Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2018.
- ^ "Nisbets buys out Bradshaw". Catering Insight. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Nisbets PLC Take Stake In Space Catering". www.spacegroupuk.com. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Nisbets - Fast Track". Fast Track. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Nisbets Wins Prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise". Caterer, Licensee & Hotelier News. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Nisbets Stores Information". www.nisbets.com.au. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ Media, Insider (22 September 2017). "Catering equipment centre opens in Bristol". Insider Media Ltd. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ Arthur, Andrew (2 December 2022). "Catering equipment giant Nisbets to continue expansion overseas". Business Live. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ Arthur, Andrew (30 September 2022). "Toolstation and WH Smith bosses appointed to Nisbets board". Business Live. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "IN BRIEF: Bunzl completes acquisition of catering distributor Nisbets". AJ Bell. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Online is now Nisbets' biggest sales channel and growing the fastest - Foodservice Equipment Journal". Foodservice Equipment Journal. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "Menzies Distribution signs deal with catering equipment supplier Nisbets". Motor Transport. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2018.