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Aintree-based postal services firm Secured Mail has received a £1.6m investment from Aquarius Equity Partners to fund its future growth plans. The company uses its fleet of vans to deliver millions of items of post every month under licence from industry regulator the Postal Services Commission and plans to use the money to extend its service offering. This is the third investment made by Aquarius from its Northern Entrepreneurs Fund, which was set up last year to make funding injections of between £750,000 and £2m into high-growth regional businesses. 
NWF revenues up ahead of garden centres sale Cheshire trading company NWF Group is selling off its garden centres division in a bid to strengthen its balance sheet and combat volatility in the raw materials markets. NWF, which now operates in the distribution, fuels and animal feed sectors after discontinuing garden centres, posted a 20.8 per cent increase in turnover to £361.2m across the three sectors for the year to 31 May 2008. But pre-tax profits were down from £5.8m in 2007 to £4.2m in 2008. Chairman Mark Hudson said: "Feeds and fuels have started the year positively, but are influenced by significant changes in their raw material markets. We are making good progress with the sale of the garden centre division and plan to utilise the proceeds to strengthen the balance sheet."
Brothers Gary and Colin Manning, owners of acclaimed city centre restaurants 60 Hope Street and The Quarter, are expanding their portfolio with a new restaurant opening in the autumn. The new venue, HoSt, will be located at 31 Hope Street, a refurbished building on the corner of Faulkner Street, and will have a seating capacity of 100 and a lounge bar and drinking area. The name HoSt is inspired by the New York areas, South of Houston Street and North of Houston Street.
Korova sells Manchester venue as Liverpool booms Korova Corporation, owner of Liverpool venues including Babycream, Korova and Negresco, has sold its Negresco Nord restaurant on Manchester’s Deansgate to concentrate on its success in Liverpool. Speaking to Insider this morning, marketing director Karen Gutmann said: “We got an offer we couldn’t refuse. It was doing well and was described as one of Manchester’s best-kept secrets. We may well be back in Manchester in the near future.” Korova’s latest openings in Liverpool are two unique venues at the Albert Dock – Circo and Raven – and the company is concentrating on its city portfolio for now. It was founded by entrepreneur Rob Gutmann, who set up and sold on a string of venues such as The Pan American Club, Blue and Alma De Cuba.
Buttering up at Meadow Foods Chester-based supplier of dairy products Meadow Foods is investing £500,000 in a new butter warehouse at its creamery. The 650-tonne temperature-controlled unit will enable the company to store finished products on site for the first time, rather than using rented storage facilities in Whitchurch. Managing director Paul Deakin said increased demand from customers had led to the move and volatility in the global milk markets is driving many manufacturers to secure their own supply of milk. "We're already stepping up farmer recruitment in Cheshire, Cumbria and North Wales and by investing in our manufacturing sites we can ensure Meadow Foods is well placed to meet demand," he said.
Football will suffer soon, says PKF Accountancy PKF has released its seventh annual survey of football club finance directors. The survey shows that 89 per cent of clubs are now using more than 90 per cent of their overdraft facilities, up from 46 per cent in 2007. Partner Jane Jackson said: "It is understandable that banks are more reluctant to lend. This may also reflect a deep-seated unease about the financial viability of some Premiership clubs." With two-thirds of top flight clubs trimming their playing squads - up from 15 per cent - Jackson said: "The optimism of clubs expecting sponsorship to grow is likely to be short lived. Once the existing deals are complete it is doubtful that new deals will be easy to secure."
The Preston Tithebarn Partnership, a joint venture between Grosvenor and Lend Lease, says that 80 per cent of respondents in public consultation support the proposals for the £700m retail-led regeneration scheme. John Lewis has signed up as one of two anchors for the 1.5 million sq ft of retail floorpsace ahead of a planning application this autumn. Eighty-one per cent of respondents said the scheme would improve visitor numbers and 78 per cent thought it would elevate Preston's status in the region.
Bold International invests in Jersey Warrington-based investment company Bold International Properties (BIP), whose portfolio is managed by Liverpool-based consultancy Sefton Group, has acquired an apartment development in Jersey for £8.2m. With backing from The Royal Bank of Scotland BIP has bought a development consisting of 48 units in St Helier from Jersey Waterfront Hotel Holding in an agreement to lease back the accommodation to the company.
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