Azzurri halts shopping spree to start growing

VAR claims to have completed its transformation after doubling annual profits

Standerwick: we are not actively looking at any particular acquisitions

Integrator Azzurri claims to have moved on from its acquisitive roots and intends to grow organically and become a one-stop shop for comms needs.

The firm recently filed results for the 12 months to 30 June, with revenue up 2.3 per cent to £149.5m. Net profit more than doubled to £6.4m.

During the year the VAR split its business into five Centres of Excellence focused on data, mobile and voice networks, IT and support services. Sales and marketing director Jason Standerwick indicated all five had provided “equal gross-margin performance”.

From its inception in 2000, Azzurri bought 16 firms in seven years. A costcutting drive resulted in 71 redundancies last year. Standerwick said Azzurri had “completed our transformation”.

“We now have a single national sales and marketing team and have consolidated our support services and call centres,” he said. “We have nationalised our finance system and are virtualising our contact centres.”

Standerwick claimed Azzurri “would not rule out” more buyouts, but stressed: “We are not actively looking at any particular acquisitions.”

Rival 2e2 has been equally acquisitive min its time. Business development director Nick Grossman said: “You can assimilate as you go along but at some point you have to stop, catch your breath and make sure that the business is working as it should be.”