Founded 183 years ago, Wirral-based family business Smylies exports products of leading food and drink brands to wholesalers and retailers in 60-plus countries and is revealing sales of £45m. Tony McDonough reports
A Wirral-based global supplier of leading food and drink brands is reporting sales of £45m despite battling increasing cost pressures.
Smylies, which operates from a distribution hub in Bromborough, was founded in Salford 183 years ago by James Smylie, a market trader who had travelled across the Irish Sea from the small town of Ballynahinch in County Down, Northern Ireland.
It traded in cooked meats, eventually opening operations in Liverpool, Birmingham and the Isle of Man. It became a specialist supplier of Danish bacon. In 2003 it relocated to Wirral and became a general supplier of leading food brands.
Today the business remains under the full control of the Smylie family with the principal shareholders being Nigel Smylie and managing director Chris Smylie. The business employs around 75 people.
Smylies exports products of leading food and drink brands to wholesalers and retailers in 60-plus countries around the world. They include British brands such as Walkers Crisps, Cadbury and Birds Eye as well as global brands such as Heinz.
In accounts for the 17 months to December 31, 2025, filed on Companies House, Smylies reported sales of around £45m and pre-tax profits of £549,099. It changed its accounting period to align with key customers and suppliers.
Sales in the previous 12-month trading period totalled £30.5m with pre-tax profits coming in at £452,564. Total dividends paid to shareholders for the current trading period totalled £390,000.
Writing in the annual report, Chris Smylie said that on an annualised basis the company has achieved revenue growth of around 4% compared to the previous year with gross margin remaining “broadly consistent” despite “cost pressure and disruption within the supply chain”.
READ MORE: Office deals ease financial pressure on Wirral Council
READ MORE: 668 new buses to hit Liverpool city region streets
He added; “Interest rates, while easing over the period, remain elevated by historical standards and inflation costs pressures persisted, adding to the company’s operating costs.”
Net assets totalled £3m, similar to the previous period and Chris also said: “The directors are satisfied with the results and consider the business to be well placed to execute its growth plans.”