Expansion opportunities AF Blakemore is expanding through acquisitions, notably the Appleby Westward Group assets in the South West and expanding into the US with Tulsa, enabling cross-sell across retail, wholesale, and logistics services to newly acquired stores and partners.

Strategic partnerships As a major SPAR UK partner and Unitas Wholesale member, AF Blakemore maintains extensive supplier and trade partnerships, presenting an opportunity to propose value-added supply chain solutions, private label opportunities, and enhanced distribution services to bolster retailer margins.

Logistics uplift Recent leadership promotions in supply chain and the scale of logistics assets post-acquisition point to a focus on end-to-end distribution efficiency, providing a doorway for logistics tech solutions, route optimization, and warehouse automation sales.

RTD and brand partnerships AF Blakemore’s distribution deals with RTD brands like Hard Rock Cocktails indicate appetite for beverage category expansion and co-packing or exclusive distribution opportunities, ideal for new product launches and promotional programs.

Community and scale With a heritage of community-focused values and a turnover around £1.1 billion, AF Blakemore seeks sustainable growth through large-scale store networks (SPAR stores) and regional logistics hubs, presenting ongoing cross-sell opportunities across retail, wholesale, and shop fitting divisions.