Australian food wholesale technology company, Fresho, has acquired UK-based ERP software provider Nation Wilcox, strengthening its position in the British food wholesale market and advancing its AI development strategy.
Founded in Melbourne in 2015, Fresho said the acquisition establishes it as the largest technology platform serving food wholesalers in the UK, with a combined customer base of more than 400 businesses and more than £2 billion in annual gross merchandise value (GMV).
The acquisition is its first in the UK, with the agreement was signed at the Australian High Commission in London, with support from the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade).
Fresho provides an order management platform for food wholesalers, integrating ordering, picking, invoicing and payments into a single system. The company said its platform uses AI to automate order capture and reduce manual administration for wholesalers and foodservice operators.
The acquisition forms part of Fresho’s broader strategy to accelerate AI capability development and product innovation across its markets, which include Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, Ireland and the US.
Founded in Birmingham in 1978, Nation Wilcox supplies ERP software to food wholesalers through its ISSAC (Integrated Sales & Stock Accounting) platform. The business serves primary and secondary wholesalers as well as cash-and-carry operators, with capabilities spanning order management, stock control, logistics, accounting, online ordering, mobile applications and AI.
Managing director, Andrew Nation, will join Fresho’s board as a significant shareholder and said the acquisition would support the next phase of growth for both businesses.
Under the agreement, Nation Wilcox will continue operating as a standalone business under its existing brand, with no changes to customer contracts, support arrangements or day-to-day operations.
“Nation Wilcox has been at the heart of UK food wholesale for more than four decades and finding the right partner for the next chapter of the business was a carefully considered decision.
“Fresho's ambitions are the right fit, and together the companies will be able to grow beyond the UK and become the premier supplier of IT systems to the food service industry worldwide. For our customers, this means access to the combined expertise of both organisations, with the continuity of the team they already know and trust,” Nation said.
Fresho general manager UK & Ireland, Jamie Foale, said the acquisition expanded the company’s reach within the UK wholesale sector.
“Acquiring this prestigious company establishes us as the leading technology platform for food service in the UK, and combining their decades of experience with our own will help us better serve the market,” Foale said.
