A family-run independent equipment supplier to the licensed trade, The Rudd Group, is set to boost its turnover by more than £600,000.
Figures for the Newcastle headquartered firm show an income increase from £7.4m in 2018 to in excess of £8m for the year ending 31 May 2019.
As one of the largest independent suppliers within the industry, The Rudd Group has enjoyed continued income growth over recent years thanks, in part, to its diversification into new markets within the licensed trade sector.
The Rudd Group has its head office at Brunswick Industrial Estate in Newcastle and has five further depots across the country in Leeds, Keswick, Wigan, Nottingham and Birmingham.
Earlier this year, the Birmingham base moved to a larger premises to accommodate increased demand within the region. This resulted in four new members of staff being brought on board in the Midlands.
Nick Rudd, Managing Director at the firm, said: “We’re really happy with the direction the company is moving in at the moment. Although the licensed trade has been a tough market to work in over the last few years due to high numbers of pub closures, we believe that the industry is taking a positive turn.”
The company was founded by Nick’s father, Bob Rudd, in 1989 with a focus on supplying gaming and amusement machines to pubs. Over the years the company has branched out into different markets with the introduction of the InnStay division in 2012, which offers EPoS, music systems and security.
Clear Cool, its glass washer, ice maker and catering equipment division, was launched in 2016 to cater for areas of the sector that weren’t geared towards gaming equipment, such as cocktail and wine bars. Clear Cool has also helped the firm enter new markets outside of the licensed trade.
Nick added: “Our newer brands have further embedded the company as a key national player within the industry. We now supply a wide range of products to bars, pubs and social clubs across the country, from large national companies to small independent sites. We are constantly looking at ways to deliver products and services that can help our customers, and I believe our personal approach to customer service and our roots as a family-run business, have been important factors in our continued success.
“As well as the new divisions we have continued to invest in our core product portfolio of low stakes gaming and amusement equipment, which drives footfall and income into our customer’s venues.”
The positive year end figures come as Nick was named Individual of the Year at the Ei Group Supplier Awards, which is ran by the largest pub company in the UK and recognises the achievements of those operating within the trade. This followed The Rudd Group also being awarded the Supplier Ei Beacon Division Hero for going above and beyond in levels of customer service.
“We appreciate that running a pub or bar can be extremely difficult, every product that we offer is either geared towards making the licensee’s life easier or increasing their profits. We pride ourselves on customer service and it is great to see that this has been recognised by the largest pub co in the UK,” said Nick.