Investments, acquisitions and family spirit: R D Johns’ growth is fueled by its passion for product delivery
Nestled in the corners of South Devon, UK, wholesaler R D Johns is a big business with a bigger heart. A true family business with a legacy spanning over 50 years, R D Johns embodies excellence in every facet, from its commitment to customer care right through to friendly corporate culture and overall operational efficiency.
It’s been 12 months since Food Chain last sat down with Andrew Johns, Owner and Managing Director of R D Johns, who shared insight into the company’s rapid expansion as it moved to a larger headquarters, launched a new state-of-the-art Test Kitchen, and underwent a stylish refresh of its website. Since then, R D Johns has only continued to flourish, maintaining its steady growth trajectory and expanding its expertise to new horizons. Andrew Johns rejoins Food Chain one year after our previous interview to provide an update on how the company has progressed since we last spoke.
“It’s been a really busy and positive year for us at R D Johns, focused on growth and consolidation,” Andrew begins. “One of the biggest developments has been our acquisition of Cooper Foods in Andover, which marks a major step in our expansion into the South of England. The integration has gone smoothly, and it’s opening the door to new customers and regional growth. Alongside that, we’ve continued to grow our team, invest in fleet and warehousing, and strengthen our overall service offering to keep pace with rising demand across our network. We’re proud of the service-driven approach that we’re known for.”
These investments have been pivotal in increasing R D Johns’ capacity and continuing to drive its strategic expansion. The acquisition of Cooper Foods – a respected Andover-based food wholesaler – excellently enhances R D Johns’ existing portfolio, and with the improved fleet to accommodate the extra capacity, the company continues to move from strength to strength.
“We’ve made some significant investments this past year. We’ve upgraded our fleet to ensure our delivery service remains reliable and efficient, and the acquisition of Cooper Foods added an important layer of infrastructure, not just in terms of physical capacity, but also in terms of local expertise and a customer base that complements our own. We also have the addition of the development of the newest depot in Andover, increasing our warehousing space and giving us the space to extend our reach further across the South,” Andrew explains.
“The Andover site is key to our future plans. The acquisition of Cooper Foods gave us an excellent platform in that region and now we’re looking to enhance it further. We’re planning upgrades to the warehouse and distribution facilities to bring everything in line with our standards and support continued growth. The idea is to turn Andover into a strong southern hub that allows us to serve customers across Hampshire and beyond more efficiently.”
Whilst the acquisition of Cooper Foods and the Andover depot is a major ongoing project for R D Johns, it’s not the only initiative that’s fueling excitement for the company. Over the last 12 months, the business has continued to invest back into its R D Johns family, both in terms of supporting its customers with a greater product assortment and in developing its own people to thrive. In alignment with its focus on people development, R D Johns has been proud to announce the appointment of a new Senior Executive, Andrew Lewis, whose wealth of experience will be crucial in leading the company into its next chapter.
Andrew (Johns) comments: “Aside from Andover, we’ve continued investing in our people and our product range. We’re working hard to offer customers a wider selection. Internally, we’ve focused on developing our team – from delivery drivers to customer service staff – to ensure we keep delivering the high level of service that’s helped us grow. 
“Bringing Andrew Lewis into the business has been a big step forward. He brings a huge amount of experience in strategic and operational leadership, and his role is already proving vital as we continue to grow. It’s allowed me to step back a little from the day-to-day and begin focusing more on long-term strategy and expansion. Having strong leadership in place is essential if we’re going to keep growing in a sustainable, well-structured way.”
Following another year of growth and success, it’s clear that the sun shines brightly on R D Johns’ future. Keeping its family values close to its core, the company is well-positioned to continue on its current trajectory, delighting its customers with delicious deliveries every day.
“The rest of 2025 will be about bedding in the changes we’ve made – integrating new staff, supporting our regional growth and completing the Andover upgrade. Early 2026 will see us continue expanding our footprint, building on the solid base we’ve now established in the South. We’re looking closely at opportunities to improve logistics and customer experience even further, while maintaining the high standards our customers expect,” Andrew reveals.
“In five years, we’d like to see R D Johns established as the leading independent foodservice provider across the South of England. That means more depots, broader product ranges and an even stronger team, but still with the same customer-first mindset that’s been with us from the start. We want to stay agile, continue supporting local, and deliver a personal, reliable service at scale.”
As our conversation draws to a close, Andrew takes a moment to reflect on R D Johns’ most important asset of all; its people.
“The growth we’ve achieved wouldn’t be possible without their hard work and commitment. Whether it’s early starts in the warehouse, late shifts on the road, or answering the phones in customer service, everyone plays a vital role. We’re proud of where we’ve come from and excited about where we’re heading.”