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Mail-order clothing firm WCF Ltd has acquired a North Yorkshire-based lingerie and clothing firm Bella di Notte as part of its continued expansion for an undisclosed sum.
Bella di Notte, which specialises in Italian lingerie and better-fit fashion for mature women, will complement WCF’s existing national mail-order clothing brands which include Country Collection, James Meade and The Classic Boutique.
Following the acquisition process, Bella di Notte will continue to operate from Malton, North Yorkshire, as part of WCF’s strategy of allowing its diverse brands to run as independent businesses.
Jo Ritzema, MD of WCF, said: “Bella di Notte’s focus on product excellence and superior customer service meant it was an ideal fit to complement our existing home shopping clothing brands, with all brands sharing a similar customer demographic.
“Both companies share a great ethos of investing and supporting their teams to drive innovation and productivity, and we’re working closely with the Bella di Notte team to ensure a smooth transition.”
Founded in 1998 by Susan Johnson, Bella di Notte employs nearly 40 people and is based at a 5,000 sq ft unit in Malton, which is home to its mail-order business and a retail store.
Johnson said: “The decision to sell Bella di Notte was taken as part of our succession planning strategy which will allow our positive sales growth to continue. Being part of a larger company will provide access to additional expertise, resource capacity and financial investment, while protecting the team’s job security.
“After 25 years of running Bella di Notte, the time was right for the business to move forward and I’m looking forward to watching its continued development and growth under the care of WCF.”
Ritzema added: “We plan to build on the success of Bella di Notte by continuing to deliver the fantastic range of clothing and lingerie which have made it so popular with existing customers, while also working towards enhancing the range with designs which appeal to an ever younger-minded customer.”
