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Rotherham entrepreneur sets his sights on European expansion

A Rotherham-based entrepreneur is set to triple the size of his health product retail business this year, thanks to major expansion opportunities across Europe.

Gavin Edley, who established Vitalife Teas in 2010, after identifying a gap in the market for herbal tea blends with specific health benefits, expanded his product portfolio in July this year with the addition of vitamins, minerals and supplements – all completely free from artificial ingredients.

These products are sold through Vitalife Health, a new business based at the Fusion@Magna Business Centre in Rotherham.

Edley sought advice from RiDO’s Soft Landing Zone to help him to expand the business into mainland Europe.

RiDO’s business co-ordinator Bob Langley assisted Vitalife Health by providing translation services, enabling test marketing of key products in three languages – French, German and Greek on Vitalife’s website, which has created a raft of new overseas business enquiries.

Langley also helped by providing credit checks on overseas companies, as well as payment advice to enhance the business’ cashflow.

As a result of a new website and the company’s international connections, the company has secured major contracts with a brand agency in Norway, which has resulted in Vitalife vitamins being sold in sports megastore outlet across Scandinavia.

Bob Langley said: “It is great to see Gavin’s business going from strength to strength with him taking advantage not only of UK opportunities, but also operating internationally as well.”

As part of his ambitious expansion plans, Gavin opened his first health store this summer, after taking over an existing health food business on Ecclesall Road in Sheffield.

He now has his sights set on opening a second store in Rotherham at the new Keppel Wharf development at the end of November.

Edley said: “This has been a hugely successful year for us and we have seen our turnover triple year on year.

“We are planning to open more new stores here in the UK and across mainland Europe over the coming months, with support from RiDO.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .