Bestway acquires Dee Bee Wholesale
Unitas member Dee Bee Wholesale has been acquired by Bestway Wholesale, following an announcement on 4 June 2026
Founded in 1961, Dee Bee Wholesale has been operating for more than 65 years with reported annual sales of approximately £57 million in its last financial year, employing 87 colleagues across its two depots in Hull and Grimsby. The family-owned, independent wholesaler serves more than 1,400 retail and on-trade customers across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
The acquisition forms part of Bestway Wholesale’s continued strategic growth plans and further strengthens its regional footprint. Bestway Wholesale MD Dawood Pervez (pictured) announced the news, saying: “We are delighted to welcome Dee Bee Wholesale into the Bestway Wholesale network. The acquisition reinforces our ambition, our confidence in the wholesale sector and our commitment to being the partner of choice for independent retailers and suppliers across the UK.”
Nick Ramsden, Managing Director, Dee Bee Wholesale, said: “This marks an important milestone for Dee Bee Wholesale and the next stage in the business’s journey. Bestway Wholesale is a business with significant scale, ambition and a strong commitment to supporting independent retailers and customers. I am confident that becoming part of the Bestway Wholesale network will create new opportunities for the business and bring long-term benefits for customers, colleagues and suppliers alike.”
Acknowledging the acquisition, Unitas CEO John Kinney said: “Dee Bee has played an important role in the history of our group, and we thank the Ramsden family and their colleagues for their contribution over many years. While we are naturally sorry to see them leave the membership, we respect their decision and wish them every success. Our focus remains firmly on supporting our members and continuing to deliver the scale, value and services that help independent wholesalers thrive.”
Ramsden paid tribute to the buying group: “Our family’s association with the organisations that ultimately became Unitas stretches back many decades, and we are immensely grateful for the support, partnership and friendship we have enjoyed throughout that time. I would like to personally thank the Unitas team, our fellow members and supplier partners for their unwavering support. We wish everyone connected with Unitas continued success in the years ahead.”
Ramsden also had a message for customers that it is “very much business as usual”. He said: “Our team, service and local relationships remain in place, and we will continue to support customers with the same commitment and service they have come to expect. As the business becomes integrated into the wider Bestway Wholesale network, customers will also benefit from access to Bestway’s competitive pricing, market-leading promotions and extensive product range, creating an even stronger proposition for the future.”
acquisition Bestway Wholesale Dawood Pervez Dee Bee Wholesale John Kinney Nick Ramsden Unitas Wholesale