Dunns Food and Drinks bolsters leadership as it targets £50m turnover by 2025
Approaching its 150th anniversary, Scottish food and drinks wholesalers Dunns Food and Drinks has announced an ambitious growth target.
The family-owned company, founded by Joseph Dunn in 1875, aims to achieve a turnover of £50 million by 2025, a significant rise from the £37.5m recorded last year and the £43m forecasted for this year.
The ambitious 16% growth target set for two years will be facilitated by an intensified focus on food and broader coverage across Scotland, with Aberdeen and its surroundings identified as key areas of expansion.
Jim Rowan, managing director of Dunns Food and Drinks, said: “We are very proud of our history, but also very excited for our future. While we’ll continue to double down and invest in providing our customers, many of whom have been with us for generations, we are also focused on expanding our reach in a number of key areas, particularly in and around Aberdeen where we see huge opportunity for an independent Scottish wholesaler.
“With some key acquisitions, we have levelled up our drinks offering, while we also have major plans to continue to invest in our team, technology, sustainability and distribution.
“It’s been one challenge after another these last few years, but the hospitality sector has remained resilient. Scotland continues to have a strong appetite for great food and drink. We hope we’ve played a small part in that by continuing to offer the very best products as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.”
As part of its expansion plan, Dunns recently made several key senior hires, including new roles for Linda Queen as customer service manager, Mhairi Shaw Hawkins as drinks stock controller and category buyer, and Rosalind Gibson as group marketing manager. David Prow has been appointed as commercial director of Dunns Food and Drinks’ Alexander Wines division, which is headed up by new MD Nathan Rowan.
Now, the wholesaler plans to further expand its team of 116 to more than 130, with a major focus on its sales and buying departments.
The firm has also now appointed its first ever female transport manager. Taylor Jeffrey, who joined as a trainee admin assistant straight from school when she was 16 and is now in charge of Dunns’ biggest department, looking after the distribution team and the fleet.
Julie Dunn, the company’s operations director, said: “Traditionally, this was a very male dominated industry, and we are invested in providing opportunities that will increase gender equality and diversity. We also plan to continue to create opportunities for our team members to grow within the organisation.
“I’m extremely proud that this company, which has been in our family for 150 years, continues to have such a positive impact on Scotland’s hospitality sector and for the local community in Blantyre by providing jobs. The steps we’re taking now are to ensure Dunns continues to have this positive impact for the next 150 years.
“While our company and the sector has remained resilient, the climate we operate in is ever changing. We will continue to be dynamic in our approach to meet these challenges and opportunities.
“Our business has grown on the back of real behaviour change. 75% of our business is now online, whereas pre-Covid it was just 35%. We are seeing more out of town customers as hospitality appears to be less centralised in city centres.”