CJ Lang posts 12% increase in profit

CJ Lang, a Dundee-based wholesaler and Spar master franchise holder for Scotland, has posted a 12% rise in profit, after the firm was involved in £9m of deal activity.

In the year to 30 April 2011, pre-tax profits grew from £4.9m to £5.5m mainly due to a £1.2m gain from the £5.3m sale of the cash-and-carry arm to Yorkshire-based Batleys, reported heraldscotland.com.

Turnover declined to £208.5m after the sale of the cash and carry business, compared to £256.6m prior to the deal. Average staff numbers decreased from 2125 to 2084 while payroll costs fell by around £700,000 to £27m.

The firm has paid £3.3m to buy convenience store chain AM Landsburgh in April 2011. The Fife-based chain operates 10 c-stores, according to scotsman.com.

CJ Lang bought a total of 18 Spar outlets over the year, which increased the company-run stores count to 108. The firm also supplies an additional 300 shops that trade under the Spar brand. Spar Scotland has a network of over 400 supermarkets.

Scotland-based CJ Lang offers grocery, confectionery, soft drink and crisps/nuts/snacks products; chilled and frozen items; non food products; and licensed products and wine products to retail markets.