Iain Hill is a wholesaler that specialises in soft drinks, confectionery, snacks and other impulse products. The deal comes ahead of Filshill relocating from Hillington Park to a 123,034 sq ft distribution centre at nearby Westway Park, close to Glasgow Airport.

Simon Hannah, chief executive at JW Filshill, said: “Iain Hill Ltd is a perfect fit for Filshill given the many synergies between the two businesses. Filshill and Iain Hill use the same IT and app suppliers which will make the transition easier.

“I have known Iain Hill and his wife, Aileen, for many years and they are excellent operators with a strong and loyal customer base and an exceptional team of employees who we are looking forward to welcoming to the Filshill family and who will benefit from career progression opportunities in the future.”

He added: “Iain Hill’s customers will benefit from a more extensive product range including fresh, chilled, alcohol and al grocery offer – our business development managers and their teams will work closely with those customers to help them develop their businesses.

“As we prepare to move to our new headquarters, having Iain Hill’s experienced staff and assets, including modern HGVs, puts us in an excellent position to hit the ground running and expand our customer base.”

Iain Hill, managing director, commented: “After 32 years in the industry, this is the right time for me to exit the business and give my staff, most of whom have been with me many years, the opportunity to work in a purpose-built, state-of-the-art distribution hub that will be just three miles from Linwood.

“For my customers, the number of food and drink lines available to them increases from 1,200 to 6,500 overnight so it a great opportunity for them to reassess their businesses and plan for growth.”

The firm thanked its staff and customers for their commitment and loyalty over the years.