Global foodservice equipment manufacturer Ali Group today revealed plans “to reposition” the British distribution of its Comenda warewash products, alongside those of combi oven and cooking equipment brands Lainox, Mareno, Rosinox and Rendisk waste management systems.
Ali Group’s wholly-owned subsidiary Dawson MMP Ltd, which is based in Barnsley in the North of England, currently distributes all five brands in the UK. The Group announced in a statement to the media it has “decided to refocus distribution of the five equipment brands through alternative UK market channels and as such will commence an orderly closure of Dawson MMP over the next six to seven months”.
Dawson will continue to trade as normal during this “repositioning” period and the company’s Dawson leadership team will still be headed by managing director Nick Falco and financial and operations director Michelle Frost.
New distribution channels
The statement from Ali Group revealed Comenda warewash equipment brand will now be exclusively distributed in the UK by Ipswich-based HTG Trading Ltd, under its business division Hubbard Systems. Hubbard also distributes the Group’s ice machine brand Scotsman in the UK. Lainox combi oven products will be distributed in the UK by Ali Group company Falcon Foodservice Equipment, which is based in Stirling, Scotland.
Both Hubbard and Falcon, says the statement, “have strong existing sales and distribution channels backed by national after-sales service that offer an ongoing assurance and commitment to the end user”. The Group also announced Rosinox, Mareno and Rendisk will continue to support the UK market via “factory-direct sales and business development activity”.
Warranty support and after-sales service
The Group stated it “fully recognises its commitment to the UK market” and will uphold all ongoing warranty and after-sales service and maintenance obligations currently provided by Dawson. “The new distribution partners will coordinate customer service for both existing as well as new product warranty, service and maintenance requirements,” it said.
Dawson’s current field service engineer team, whom the Group acknowledged as “skilled and experienced” in supporting both the Ali Group warewash and cooking appliances, will transfer to Ali Group business Serviceline, “thereby further expanding our national network and response capabilities.”
Michael Jones
