Nationwide Produce marks a turning point in its company history by announcing its first acquisition in its 50-year history, with the integration of EuroFresh Evesham, ushering in a new phase of development after decades of exclusively organic growth. The transaction significantly strengthens the group's presence in the Vale of Evesham, one of the UK's leading fresh produce hubs, where the new "Nationwide Evesham – Eurofresh Site" hub, the company's third refrigerated warehouse in the Vale Park area, is opening.
Founded in 1975 in Southport, Nationwide Produce has built a strong European network over the years, serving over 1.000 customers and generating revenues of approximately £205 million. The acquisition represents a strategic step that allows the group to expand its logistics capacity and regional coverage. EuroFresh, active since 1998 in the distribution of local and imported fruit and vegetables to wholesale and catering channels, brings not only infrastructure but also a full fleet of refrigerated vehicles. This will allow Nationwide to further expand its delivery reach in the UK and Ireland, increasing operational flexibility and speed of service.
Organizationally, all EuroFresh operations will be fully integrated under the Nationwide Produce brand, with a transition already underway and order management entrusted to a centralized system, seamlessly integrating customers. Operationally, the new Evesham site will play a key role as a storage hub for completed pallets, while picking and packing activities will remain concentrated at the main site. Pallets will be transferred via cross-docking operations, reducing yard traffic, improving space utilization, and increasing safety and efficiency.
The integration also includes EuroFresh staff—from warehouse and transportation teams to commercial functions—who will join the Nationwide structure, contributing specific skills to strengthen operations. As President Tim O'Malley emphasized, the transaction also addresses concrete capacity needs: growth in recent years had led to saturation of available space in Evesham, creating management challenges that the acquisition now addresses.
The new assets—warehouse, fleet, and human resources—allow the group to improve logistics flow management and support more structured future growth, in a context where cold chain efficiency and rapid delivery represent key competitive levers. With this transaction, Nationwide Produce ushers in a new phase of its strategy, combining organic growth with external growth and consolidating its position in the British and European fruit and vegetable markets.
