West Midlands-based AF Blakemore & Son has acquired the business of fellow Spar wholesaler South Wales-based Capper & Co.

The acquisition will take the turnover of the combined organisation to £1.1bn. The move will create the largest Spar wholesaler in the UK, serving 1,096 of the symbol group’s stores.

Meanwhile, the successor to Spar managing director Jerry Marwood – who leaves this summer – has been named as JJB Sports’ Debbie Robinson. She previously worked as director of food marketing at The Co-operative Group.