BA welcomes Gardners expansion

In the UK, the Booksellers Association (BA) has welcomed the news that wholesaler Gardners has bought assets of Bertrams, the book wholesaler that went into administration earlier this year.

Last week, Gardners—which operates its warehouse out of Eastbourne, in England’s south—confirmed it had purchased Bertrams’ Norwich warehouse, allowing the company to expand its range and stockholding.

BA managing director Meryl Halls said Gardners’ decision to expand its capacity ‘looks like a sensible move … now that they have the responsibility of being the sole wholesaler for books in the UK’. ‘If it also leads to re-employment for book warehouse staff locally in Norwich, then that is clearly a good thing for local employment and for book trade personnel being able to stay in the industry,’ added Halls.

According to the Bookseller, most stakeholders thought Gardners’ expansion was of benefit to the industry, however, many publishers are owed more than £15,000 (A$27k) by Bertrams, and believe they’re unlikely to be compensated quickly. Publishers who wish to retrieve stock will need to liaise with the company’s administrators Turpin Barker Armstrong.

Turpin Barker Armstrong announced in June that the Bertram Group had entered administration, with the company having previously been up for sale.

Category: International news