Sheffield wholesaler to hit £100m revenue mark after expanding operations

A Sheffield-based wholesaler is set to double its workforce to 200 staff in less than five years, due to international growth of the discount retail sector and support from Lloyds Bank.

Pricecheck, which supplies discount stores including Poundland, B&M and Home Bargains, employs 130 staff at its Swallownest headquarters.

The wholesaler’s revenues of £74m are up more than a third on last year.

After securing an additional 40,000 sq ft of warehouse space on Stevenson Road, Attercliffe, Pricecheck is now on target to employ 200 staff with revenues of £100m by 2020.

A £7.5m finance package from Lloyds Bank will support the company’s investment, kitting the new site out with forklifts, pallet racking and stock for the firm to trade internationally.

Pricecheck has seen its growth accelerate since Lloyds Bank supported its move to the firm’s current base in 2016, when it had 80 staff and revenues of £43.5m.

Lee Walker, finance director at Pricecheck, said: “Shoppers in the UK and abroad feel less stigma about buying from discount stores these days, a trend that’s supported our fast growth and one we expect to continue.

“Growing exports has been core to our strategy in the last few years too. Now, almost half of our revenue comes from overseas. We sell to over 75 countries globally, supplying wholesalers and retailers in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America and Oceania.

“With the new warehouse accommodation and finance from Lloyds Bank, we’re now in an excellent position to move forward with our growth plans, and to develop the firm to a scale that gives us a real competitive advantage in the market.”

Pricecheck, which was founded by the parents of joint managing directors, Mark Lythe and Debbie Harrison, sources health and beauty, pet supplies and food and drink stock from across the UK and the continent.

Mark Butterworth, relationship director, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “It’s been exciting to see the rapid growth of Pricecheck in the last few years. The firm has capitalised on the growth of the discount sector and has established itself as a trusted trading partner for retailers around the world, building a business with a truly global reach.

“We are committed to supporting the ongoing success of businesses like Pricecheck, and as part of our wider plans to help Britain prosper, we have dedicated teams on hand to offer bespoke funding solutions and expertise.

“Tools like our International Trading Portal can be valuable in helping firms identify markets for exporting and importing.”