A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd is one of the largest and most forward-thinking family-owned businesses in the UK.
The company began life in 1917 as a counter-service grocery store and has grown from these humble beginnings into a company that now employs more than 7,000 people and has a turnover of more than £1 billion.
Food and drink have always been the lifeblood of A.F. Blakemore, and the business now entails retail, wholesale distribution, food service and shop fitting divisions.
A.F. Blakemore is the largest division of SPAR UK, owning 271 SPAR stores and serving more than 900 in total across England and Wales.
The company’s portfolio of brands also includes Philpotts, a chain of prepared-food stores, and Vegan Store, a specialist online wholesaler and retailer.
A.F. Blakemore is a member of the Unitas Wholesale and Country Range groups and is a significant supplier to the independent grocery sector, pubs, restaurants and caterers across the UK.
The business is committed to developing a loyal and dedicated workforce that is focused upon excellent customer service and behaving with integrity. The company has always strived to build partnerships with suppliers and trade partners while never underestimating the role that it plays within the communities it serves.
Underpinning everything that A.F. Blakemore does is the company’s values statement, the Blakemore Way. This highlights what A.F. Blakemore stands for and the way that the company has always done and will continue to do business.