Alpine Fine Foods to boost workforce as investment secured

Alpine Fine Foods, based in Hull, will continue its geographic expansion and add to its current workforce of 49 as a result of the unspecified investment from MWS Group and JSJ Partnership.

Ten-year old Alpine, which is on course to hit £6m turnover this year, was founded by Peter McAlpin and Darren Peacock.

The backing from MWS and JSJ will give Alpine access to investment and management support, but its two directors will retain the freedom to develop the business.

Neil Robinson of MWS said: “We became aware that Alpine Fine Foods was looking for investment and when we looked at the opportunity we liked the client base and we loved the enthusiasm of the directors.

“Their unique selling point is service. They operate daily deliveries – twice-daily for some customers – and they have a very sophisticated customer management system. That will help the expansion plans so in time we’ll be looking at a bigger product range, wider geographical area and job creation.”

Hull-based MWS Group employs more than 300 people in companies ranging from corporate finance and compact gardens. Melton, East Yorkshire-based JSJ Partnership is a joint investor with MWS.

Mr Peacock and Mr McAlpin had known each other for 10 years when they launched Alpine in February 2001. “We saw the opportunity to set up Alpine because there was a lack of decent quality, local food wholesalers,” said Mr Peacock.

Alpine has 15,000 square feet of warehouse space and 10,000 square feet of yard at Sutton Fields Industrial Estate. Its fleet of 18 vans supplies shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, the education and healthcare sectors, golf courses and staff canteens in a 70-mile radius of Hull.