Security products firm eyes further growth after buy-out backed by FDC

The deal gives full control of Haydon Marketing to Peter Dickens, the Managing Director, and allows for the retirement of his long-term business partner and co-founder Mark Neale. Peter now plans to continue expanding the company, which the two men established in 1993.

Based in Droitwich, Haydon supplies wholesale distributors throughout the UK with security products including fire and intruder alarm accessories, CCTV, access control, AV, connectivity and networking systems. The company has continued to expand its product portfolio over the years. Its latest addition is power supplies for fire alarm systems, which were introduced in summer last year, and already account for a significant part of its revenue.

The company offers around 250 products under the Haydon brand and supplies own-label products for wholesalers as well as bespoke items, bringing the total product range to over 500.  Haydon, which employs 13 staff, has two manufacturing joint ventures in China and operates an 11,000 sq ft warehouse in Droitwich.

Peter Dickens, Managing Director, said: “Haydon has built its reputation on rapid service, quality products and competitive prices. We are constantly innovating and never stand still. Fire systems are currently a major growth area for us, as users seek to invest in safety amidst growing awareness of the fire risk.

“We also see opportunity to expand our own-brand manufacturing service for our wholesale customers. The buy-out is the start of a new era for Haydon and I look forward to taking the business to the next stage of its development.”

Justin Sorby of Frontier Development Capital added: “Haydon is a great business that has built a strong reputation and solid industry relationships. The funding will enable Peter to build on its success to date and work with the management team to pursue new growth opportunities.”

Frontier Development Capital was investing from its new Evolution fund. Ryan Shields and Gurpreet Poonia of Dow Schofield Watts provided corporate finance advice to Haydon, while Charlotte Thornton-Smith and Haydon Simmons of HCR Law provided legal advice and Stephen Deer and Julian Dyer of Ormerod Rutter Chartered Accountants advised on fundraising.