Thresher, the UK-based drinks retailer, is continuing its move upmarket with the acquisition of the gourmet meal business Leapingsalmon.com, which will allow it to sell top-of-the-range meal solutions alongside its wine, beer and spirits.
The acquisition of Leapingsalmon's online business marks Thresher's entry into the Internet retailing arena.
London-based Leapingsalmon.com currently offers consumers high quality hand prepared meal kits delivered directly to their homes, and while this business will continue to operate as it does now, the company's products will also be made available in Thresher Group stores across the UK.
The move will also see Leapingsalmon extend its brand into other product lines and formats, maximising its growth potential, according to David Williams, Thresher Group chief executive.
"Food and wine are natural partners, and we know our customers buy wines to accompany prepared foods at home. By acquiring Leapingsalmon.com we are offering the consumer a new range of products, and will be giving them the opportunity to purchase these products in one place - Threshers shops."
He added: "Consumers have told us they would like to see selected food products available in shops and this represents one of the steps we are taking to make this happen."
Leapingsalmon.com has been delivering high quality hand made meal kits created by top chefs since 1999, with the aim of making gourmet home cooking fun and easy for the time-pressured or reluctant cook. Leapingsalmon.com recently added wine to its offering, emphasising again the synergies between the food and wine sectors.
Thresher Group has been repositioning itself as an upmarket convenience retailer - it is the UK's sixth largest private retailer and the leading 'small shop' retailer, employing over 15,000 people - and has introduced a number of initiatives in recent months to strengthen its position.
These include the launch of Origin, which it claims is the world's only major wine brand not allied to a single country, product or region, and the introduction last month of a new retail format aimed at the 'stylish single', composing mainly young professionals who know more than the average consumer about wine, and with a higher disposable income.