Redbridge has strengthened its foodservice arm with the acquisition of Leicester-based Parkinson Food Services.

Parkinson Food Services - a supplier to caterers throughout the East Midlands - merged with existing Redbridge Food Service operations in Leicester and the enlarged business will trade under the management of David Parkinson as Redbridge Produce and Flowers.

Both companies said the move would benefit customers as increased scale and diversity of the operation, together with the extended coverage of delivery routes, will improve efficiency and service flexibility and will increase the strategic importance of Leicester in Redbridge’s national distribution network.

Steve Harrison, managing director of Redbridge Produce and Flowers, said: “This is a very exciting development for the Redbridge distributive business. We have seen very significant growth in our Leicester operation over the last two years and bringing it together with a quality business like Parkinson will increase our critical mass and enhance our capabilities tremendously, providing an excellent strategic platform for us to further develop our business in central England. We are looking forward to the newly combined businesses becoming a key element of our national proposition for customers delivered at a local level, and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome David and his team to the Redbridge Group.”