Travel Angels will retain its strong independent focus and brand name following its buyout by Midcounties Co-operative.
The acquisition of the southwest agency’s eight shops takes Midcounties Co-op’s retail estate to 50 branches and marks its expansion into the southwest from its stronghold in the Midlands.
Travel Angels co-owner David Logan said the 19-year-old business would be in a “strong, safe pair of hands” under Midcounties’ ownership and the decision to sell it was based purely on a need to secure the retailer’s future. Co-owner and director Peter Grayson will stay on with the business.
Travel Angels, which was one of the first Hays Independence Group members, had always focused on being an independent agency and was well known in the regions surrounding its eight shops, Logan said.
“We sell everything from Butlins to Barbados and being independent is at the forefront of our minds. Midcounties is from the same independent mould so that will not change.”
Logan said it was unlikely the branding would change in the long term. “We have a strong brand. Midcounties bought Travel Angels because it found it attractive so it would be daft to do something [with the name].”
Being part of a larger independent group would also give Travel Angels’ 35 staff better career and training opportunities as well as peace of mind, he said, adding: “It feels like we have handed the business over to the next generation of stewardship.”
Alistair Rowland, group general manager for Midcounties, said: “Travel Angels is one the few remaining very good independent agents in an area with little competition. A buyout can be daunting but the staff are very excited.”