SOLD : Somerset Businessman Acquires New Business and Relocates

Forgecraft of Cheddar, Somerset has recently been acquired by Richard Hooper who has relocated his existing operation into the Forgecraft base.

Forgecraft was founded in 1980 by Greg Anniuk and a former business partner and, as the business expanded, was relocated to premises in Cheddar. The business is a specialist wrought ironwork fabricator with all work undertaken to order only and based on either standard designs or entirely to customers’ specifications. The material used is mainly mild steel but the business also works in stainless steel and aluminium as required. The majority of total output concerns products such as gates, railings, balustrades, staircases, disability ramps and fire escapes but the likes of wall panelling, ornamental arches, security grills and fire baskets and canopies, etc. are also produced as well as miscellaneous other work including home extensions and restoration work. Basically, the business will produce almost anything a customer requires. In fact, its motto is “if you can draw it, we can make it”.

With Greg, who worked both in the workshop as a welder/fabricator and as an estimator, and his wife Mary, who looked after the initial customer contact and administration side of the business, looking to retire they chose to instruct West Country based specialist business transfer agency, Beardsley Theobalds to act for them.
The business was promoted for sale on Beardsley Theobalds’ own website as well as the main websites covering the business transfer arena and mailshots were also carried out. The business caught the attention of Richard Hooper, owner of The Electric Gate Company, also of Cheddar. With there being such synergy between the businesses and with Richard also looking to move from his rented premises and acquire the freehold property available at Forgecraft the acquisition made perfect sense.

Richard quickly built a good relationship with the vendors and now, after the purchase, Greg will be staying with the business for six months and Mary will help with the handover to ensure that there is a smooth transition into new ownership.