Zip Heaters UK has bought Southport-based instant hot water goods manufacturer Instanta.
Instanta serves the catering and commercial market and was founded in 1957.

'This move gives the group a significant presence in the UK catering market as well as offering additional export opportunities for Instanta products via Zip subsidiaries and agents around the world. It also greatly increases our UK manufacturing capability', said Chris Binnie, Zip UK's general manager.

Zip says Instanta will continue to operate as a stand alone firm and will keep the entire Instanta management team, including its managing director John Brassey and wife Marion Brassey.

'In our search for the best buyer for the company our top priority was to find one that shared the same ethos. In Zip we have found just that - world leaders in instant boiling water with a passion for customer service', said John Brassey.

Headcount for Zip's UK operation, formed in 1991, has increased by 50% with the acquisition of Instanta.