Smarter Capital has joined forces with UNNU, the UK's largest endurance sports nutrition and sporting-essentials distributor, to accelerate growth through new sales channels, export opportunities and marketplace expansion.
A collaboration designed to accelerate growth
Smarter Capital is pleased to announce a new collaboration with UNNU, one of the UK's leading distributors of endurance sports nutrition and sporting essentials.
The partnership is intended to build on UNNU's existing growth by adding new capabilities, resources and routes to market.
Smarter Capital will support the UNNU leadership team as the business expands its reach, develops new commercial opportunities and strengthens its position within the health, wellbeing and sports-nutrition market.
A leading distributor across sport, leisure and retail
UNNU supplies leading brands to more than 2,000 trade customers across the UK.
The business specialises in products for running, cycling, triathlon, swimming and ball sports, while also serving gyms, yoga studios, climbing walls, leisure centres, cafés, delis and professional sports teams.
This broad customer base gives UNNU a strong platform from which to scale both existing and new brand partnerships.
Opening new export and marketplace opportunities
The collaboration will enhance UNNU's growth strategy by helping the brands it represents expand through export and marketplace initiatives.
Nick Gracie and Anna Gracie will be able to draw on Smarter Capital's experience and relationships across international markets, supporting growth at multiple levels.
The partnership will also provide access to the marketplace capabilities of Rex Brown, a specialist strategic-selling partner operating across the UK and Europe.
Adding specialist marketplace expertise
Rex Brown provides end-to-end marketplace services for household brands, SMEs, digital-transformation teams and challenger brands.
Its capabilities are focused on increasing revenue, growing market share and protecting brand value across a range of digital marketplaces.
For UNNU and its brand partners, this creates an opportunity to extend distribution beyond traditional wholesale channels and reach new digital audiences.
“Since our first meeting with Nick and Anna, it was clear that Smarter Capital and UNNU working together would be a powerful partnership.”
Martin Hargreaves, Chief Financial Officer, Smarter Capital
Combining market leadership with channel-growth experience
Martin Hargreaves said the collaboration brings together UNNU's established position in the marketplace with Smarter Capital's experience of growing businesses through new sales channels.
He said the future is exciting for the business and that Smarter Capital is looking forward to working with the UNNU team to deliver its growth targets.
“We are super excited to be working with Nick and Anna, building on their already phenomenal success.”
Mark Callaghan, Group Chief Executive Officer, Smarter Capital
Positioning UNNU for the next phase
Mark Callaghan said the partnership will further position UNNU as a leading UK distributor of sports goods and nutrition products.
The strategy includes international expansion, development of new sales channels and deeper relationships with both existing and new brands.
He highlighted the long-term growth potential of the sector and said UNNU is well positioned to be at the forefront of that development.
“Nick and I are delighted to be partnering with Smarter Capital and taking UNNU to the next step in sporting goods and sporting nutrition distribution.”
Anna Gracie, Head of Operations, UNNU
Bringing complementary capabilities together
Anna Gracie said the partnership brings together a wealth of experience across several important business disciplines.
By combining UNNU's distribution expertise with Smarter Capital's commercial, operational and digital capabilities, the teams aim to maximise the company's potential over the coming years.
Supporting the wider Smarter Wellness strategy
UNNU forms an important part of Smarter Capital's growing Health & Wellbeing vertical.
The vertical is focused on businesses operating across sports nutrition, healthy snacking, wellness products and related consumer markets, with growth supported by shared expertise in ecommerce, technology, marketing and international expansion.
About UNNU
UNNU is a UK distributor of endurance sports nutrition, protein-based snacks and sporting essentials.
The business supplies more than 2,000 trade customers, including retailers, gyms, leisure operators, specialist outlets and professional sports teams.
Visit UNNUAbout Smarter Capital
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