Major food wholesaler sold to RDCP Group

Partner and Head of Corporate & Finance Martyn Brierley and Associate Mark Wilcock have advised the management team of Derby-based grocery trader SOS Wholesale on their sale to long-term UK investment firm RDCP.

Founded in 1996 by Norman Beckett and his two sons Mark and Steve, family-run SOS Wholesale employs 120 staff from its 70,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution centre in Derby and sales office in Barnsley.

Reported as one of the UK’s largest wholesalers of food and beverages, its product range extends across 4,500 lines, selling brands including Mars Bars, Walkers Crisps, Heinz, Nescafe, Colgate and Fairy.

The existing management led by Mark Beckett and Vipin Patara will work closely with RDCP founders Sameer Rizvi and Iryna Dubylovska on growing the business.

The deal is RDCP’s eighth acquisition in the last 18 months, following its most recent takeover of Intelling in October 2021. It means that RDCP now controls $400m (£294m) of investments across multiple sectors in the UK.

SOS Wholesale Managing Director Mark Beckett said:

“Steven and I are proud to be a part of one of the UK’s fastest-growing private conglomerates, RDCP Group. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Vipin Patara and our management team to grow the business further, whilst retaining the family values that have made us what we are today.

“No deal with the magnitude of ours would be possible without professional solicitors. We could not have asked for anyone better than Flint Bishop to handle our legal representation.”

Martyn Brierly commented:

“We are delighted for Mark and Steven on their disposal of this leading wholesale business to the RDCP Group.  It was a pleasure to work with Mark, Steven and Dains on this transaction, which we are sure will see SOS Wholesale further flourish under the continued guidance of Mark, Vipin and its new owners, the RDCP Group.”

Other advisors on the deal

RDCP was advised by Faisal Dhalla and Kirsty Odell of law firm Hempsons. Debt advisors were Neil Sharp and Dominic Roberts of TML Finance and Advisory.

The sellers were advised by Roy Farmer and Constance Host at Dains on the corporate finance lead advisory and Adam Longmore at Dains on the tax.