History

1980s – The early years

The business was founded by Gary and Ian Unsworth in 1981 as Independent Vending Supplies (IVS), supplying ingredients to the Vending Industry. Initially the business manufactured and supplied “Dry” ingredients such as Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate and Soups, and employed just 4 staff, including Gary’s wife, Jackie! The business was based in a 2500 square foot unit in Burscough, Lancashire.

By 1984, the business had expanded its premises in Burscough to 10,000 square feet and had invested in its first “Wet” manufacturing line, producing cordials and syrups for Caterers and Vending Operators. This expansion into Foodservice saw rapid growth. The following year the business moved its premises to a 15000 square foot unit in Skelmersdale, Lancashire and also won its first major national award – the BT National Business Efficiency Award.

The business was approached by Nichols Plc the following year, and was ultimately sold in January 1986, with Gary and Ian continuing to run the business as turnover reached £3 million. Within 12 months, the company’s name was changed to Nichols Foods, to better reflect its broader activity base.  At the same time, the business achieved BS5750 (ISO9001:2000), one of the first suppliers in the Vending Industry to be awarded this accreditation.

1990s – Rapid sales growth

By 1990 the business was employing 210 staff, with a turnover of  £20 million. It was increasingly becoming a major supplier to the Vending and Foodservice markets as it continued to broaden its product range. It entered the packaged soft drinks market in 1993, with an ambitious programme of placing innovative can vendors sourced from the USA. It was also diversifying further through supplying Coffee to the Cash and Carry market and for the first time started supplying Retailers with Hot Chocolate.

A further re-location was required in 1994, this time to Haydock in Merseyside, where the business is based today. A multi million pound investment created an impressive site of 70,000 square foot. The site was officially opened by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in early 1995.

By the end of the millennium, the business was a multi-award winning, broad-based business supplying all sectors of the UK food and beverage market. It had a turnover of £45 million and employed over 300  people. In 1999, Gary left Nichols Foods to join the main board of Nichols Plc.

2000s – Back to Family Values

In 2001, an exclusive agreement was reached with Masterfoods to manufacture and distribute Beverage products, including Galaxy Hot Chocolate and Maltesers. This was the first step on a strategic road that would transform the business by forging long term relationships with strategic Brand Partners. In 2003, Nichols Plc made the decision to integrate the group’s co-packing arm,
Stockpack, into Nichols Foods. The two businesses were later formally merged into the Nichols Foods business and the main site was expanded to 115,000 square feet.

November 2004 saw the business return to family ownership via an MBO.  This time, Gary, Ian and Jackie, were joined by Gary’s son, Rob, a Chartered Accountant. In 2005, further expansion necessitated a new 45,000 square foot finished goods warehouse built adjacent to the main Penny Lane site. The business also changed its name to Aimia Foods and started on a major, multi-million pound re-investment programme to improve its manufacturing facilities.

In 2007, the business celebrated a major outsourcing contract win to pack cereal for a major blue chip client. This contract alone required a bespoke 65,000 square foot site to be commissioned within a six month period, again adjacent to the main Penny Lane site. A major Weight Watchers license for Hot Beverages was picked up in 2008, and by 2009, the business had a turnover of £55 million. In that year the company was recognised by Guardian Newspapers as a Top 100 employer.

2010s – Blue Chip Partnerships

In 2010 and 2011, further outsourcing contracts were won with a NYSE listed global coffee player and a major UK blue chip client, both to pack Hot Beverage products. In addition, a license to sell Energy Drinks under the No Fear brand was signed. Today, the business employs 250 people across its three sites totalling 225,000 square feet with a growing turnover in excess of £60m. It prides itself as being the only beverage manufacturer in the UK to be accredited with a BRC A* for quality standards, and is obsessive about providing outstanding service to its customers.