Family-owned Dee Bee Wholesale of Grimsby bought by UK’s largest independent food and drink wholesaler
Bestway Wholesale has acquired Dee Bee Wholesale, strengthening its regional presence in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The deal, for an undisclosed sum, brings the family-run wholesaler – which serves more than 1,400 retail and on-trade customers from depots in Grimsby and Hull – into the network of the UK’s largest independent food and drink wholesaler. Dee Bee Wholesale, which employs 87 staff across its two sites, reported a turnover of £59.4m in its most recently filed accounts.
Acquisition details
Bestway Wholesale, founded in 1976 and based in London, operates 57 depots nationwide. It sits within the Bestway Group, an industrial conglomerate with global interests spanning banking, cement, pharmacy, milling and property investment. Bestway Wholesale owns well-known brands including Costcutter, best-one, BB foodservice, Bestway Wholesale, as well as Bargain Booze and Wine Rack. The company confirmed that the takeover forms a key part of its ongoing strategic expansion plans and further bolsters its regional footprint.
Dawood Pervez, managing director of Bestway Wholesale, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dee Bee Wholesale – a long-established family business with more than 65 years of customer service heritage, loyal customer base and detailed regional knowledge across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire – into the Bestway Wholesale network. This reflects our continued confidence in the future of independent wholesale and retail. Both businesses share a long-standing commitment to customer service, independent retail and supporting local businesses.”
Dee Bee Wholesale: a 65-year family history
Dee Bee Wholesale, also known as DB Ramsden & Co Ltd, was established in 1961 as part of the Ramsden Group. The name “Dee Bee” derives from the initials of its founder, Dudley Ramsden (D.B.R.). The business initially concentrated on non-food products but evolved over the decades into a prominent supplier of groceries and drinks, helping clients adapt to shifting market demands.
The Ramsden family’s roots in Grimsby run deep: Ron Ramsden opened Ramsden’s Retail Store in the town in 1946, and Dudley Ramsden founded the wholesale operation to supply non-food items to that store. The family later expanded into international trade, setting up DeeBee Worldwide in 1989. Sean Ramsden, a former managing director, received an MBE for services to international trade. Dee Bee Wholesale had been a member of Unitas Wholesale, the UK’s largest independent wholesale buying group, but has ceased that membership following the acquisition.
Managing director Nick Ramsden will remain with the business to support continuity for customers, colleagues and suppliers, and to ensure a smooth integration. He told customers: “This marks an important milestone in the history of Dee Bee Wholesale and an exciting new chapter for the business. For more than 65 years, Dee Bee Wholesale has been committed to supporting customers across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, building strong relationships and helping independent retailers, convenience stores and on-trade operators succeed. I am incredibly proud of the business we have built together and the trust our customers have placed in us over many years. Importantly, it is very much business as usual. Our depot operations, customer contacts and service teams remain in place and customers should continue trading with us in exactly the same way as they do today.”
Benefits for customers
While operations will remain unchanged for the immediate future, customers can expect significant advantages as the integration progresses. Nick Ramsden said: “We believe becoming part of Bestway Wholesale creates significant opportunities for the future. Bestway is one of the UK’s leading wholesalers with a strong track record of supporting independent retailers and customers. Over time, customers will benefit from Bestway’s scale, competitive pricing, market-leading promotions and extensive product range.”
Bestway Wholesale’s size – with 57 depots and a nationwide network – gives it substantial buying power, allowing it to offer lower prices and a wider selection of goods than many smaller operators can achieve on their own. The company has invested heavily in own-label brands, including best-one and best-one Inspired for retail, and Essentially Catering for foodservice. Its catering division has a targeted strategy focusing on fast food outlets, contracted work, and pub and bar supply, meaning Dee Bee’s on-trade customers will gain access to a dedicated service line designed for their needs.
The UK wholesale sector has been under pressure from rising costs, supply chain disruptions and inflation, which has made it harder for independent wholesalers to maintain margins. Larger wholesalers typically outperform smaller rivals because of economies of scale and stronger supplier relationships. Bestway’s acquisition therefore provides Dee Bee’s customers with greater stability and a more resilient supply chain, helping them navigate ongoing economic challenges. The sector has also seen a trend towards consolidation, with companies broadening their customer bases and product capabilities through acquisitions.
For Dee Bee’s existing customers, the immediate reassurance is that nothing changes on the ground. Depot operations, customer contacts and service teams remain in place. But as the businesses integrate, retailers and on-trade operators across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire will gain access to Bestway’s full product range, including its market-leading promotions, competitive pricing and own-label portfolio – advantages that a 65-year-old family firm could not offer alone. Dawood Pervez emphasised Bestway’s shared commitment to supporting independent businesses, saying the deal was driven by “continued confidence in the future of independent wholesale and retail”.
