Mobilis makes a vital French connection
We're featured in the Manchester Evening News following our recent acquisition of Sacedi. Read the full article below.
THE French connection will help healthcare and sports products firm Mobilis Group to increase revenues to more than £30m over the coming year, chief executive Colin Webb has said.
Mobilis, which has its headquarters on Shaw Road, Oldham, aims to grow sales in Spain, Italy and Portugal following its acquisition of French distributor Sacedi earlier this year.
Sacedi, which is based in Toulouse, provides a strong platform for expansion across Europe, said Mr Webb.
The deal to buy Sacedi in May helped lift overall group turnover by 25 per cent to £27.3m during the year to September.
Overseas sales were around £1.5m and like-for-like growth was nine per cent.
Mobilis Group, which employs more than 200 people, distributes tapes, bandages, strappings and other medical products to Manchester United, Oldham Athletic and other soccer and rugby clubs and sells own-brand Vulkan supports and Sorbothane insoles through sports retailers.
It also distributes physiotherapy, podiatry and orthopaedic instruments and equipment to hospitals and private practitioners.
Other divisions include Mobilis Performance, through which the group runs training courses for physiotherapists, athletics coaches and gym instructors, and subsidiaries which sell mobility and healthcare aids such as scooters and bespoke wheelchairs, and shoes for diabetic patients to help prevent foot ulcers.
Mobilis Group has grown organically and via acquisitions - Mr Webb has completed five takeovers since he became CEO in 2007 and is on course for a sixth in the near future.
He was recruited by owner Stewart Newton after a spell at Norwich Union, where he had been marketing director.
Mr Webb, a married father-of-three, is an economics graduate and began his career at consumer goods giant Unilever as a marketing trainee. During 18 years with Unilever, he had stints in France, Belgium, Zimbabwe and Malawi, developing brands such as Dove and Lux, before returning to the UK to join Boots, then Norwich Union.
His strategy has been to add new revenue streams such as London-based Premier Sports Medicals, a £1m-turnover business which distributes the tapes, bandages, dressings and strappings and was acquired in July.
In total, Mobilis has spent more than £3m on acquisitions since Mr Webb took over.
"If we see the right opportunity and it fits with our strategy of adding expertise or ranges of complementary products, we will do so.
"We are also involved in developing new technologies and materials for our own brands, in partnership with north west universities."
The group, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, distributes more than 20,000 products and has grown internet revenues by 150 per cent.
It has invested more than £300,000 to upgrade its business-to-business website and over £200,000 to launch internet sales to consumers.
The focus on overseas markets will also involve rolling out new business channels, including web sales and supplying to the healthcare and sports markets.
