In a global deal, the historic textile mill in Huddersfield, Taylor & Lodge has inked a joint venture partnership with China’s textile giant Shandong Ruyi Technology Group. Owners Bulmer & Lumb Group has agreed to the deal for its Taylor & Lodge manufacturing unit at Albert Street.
As per Bahman Mostaghimi, Managing Director of Shandong Ruyi UK the joint venture will bring world-class textile technology, marketing and financial power of Shandong Ruyi together with the manufacturing and design skills of Taylor & Lodge. Shandong Ruyi will help Taylor & Lodge to improve international markets through upgrading its equipment and expanding its marketing.
Mostaghimi says China is known for its cheap products. From the start, they wanted to be one Chinese company where the customer is happy about the quality and service, but complains about the price.
Post the JV, a new company has been formed under the name of Taylor & Lodge (Huddersfield), which will be 80 per cent owned by Shandong Ruyi and 20 per cent by Bulmer & Lumb Group. Taylor & Lodge employs 65 people at its Rashcliffe Mills site. While, Shandong Ruyi supplies high-end suits to its customers including Marks & Spencer and John Lewis and indirectly to other retailers such as Moss Bros, Taylor and Lodge has built its reputation as a manufacturer of the finest, luxury British worsted cloths. In 1966, it was the first textile company in the world to get the Queen’s Award.
