TEAMWORK Marketing, the foodservice marketing specialist of Dunnington, York, has been sold to Brahm, one of the biggest marketing companies in Leeds, for an undisclosed sum.

Now about 30 staff are preparing to move out of Dunnington and into the Headingley headquarters of Brahm by the middle of next month.

That will include Teamwork's co-founder Bob Wood, who as part of the deal will spend two years as divisional director of what will now become known as Teamwork At Brahm.

He will maintain continuity of a client portfolio which includes Kelloggs, Nestl and McCain Foods.

Mr Wood will also remain joint managing director of what is left of the Teamwork Group at Chessingham Park Estate, Dunnington, namely the £1 million turnover Teamwork Handling, a growing "fulfilment" organisation which uses its 40,000 sq ft warehouse for "nuts and bolts" marketing, such as storage and distribution of promotional prizes.

In charge of the remaining team of 12 at Teamwork Handling will be co-MD John Clark and operations director Magnus Roche.

Mr Wood said: "We've been considering our future for a while. Brahm is one of the premier agencies in the North of England, with a turnover of £18 million and divisions in PR, event management, research, advertising and direct marketing.

"The food service market is growing dramatically and it became sensible to talk about coming together."

Mr Wood left the now-defunct Redferns National Glass, in Fishergate, York, as marketing manager in 1981 to start the Teamwork organisation with Mr Clark.

They combined their experience - Mr Wood had worked for Unilever and RHM and Mr Clark for the Shepherd Group - to set up a marketing firm which was soon to take the food industry by storm.

It began in Cumberland Street, moved to The Old Rectory and five years ago, with the growth of Teamwork Handling, combined both operations at Dunnington, building up the group into a £3.5 million-turnover venture.

In a website statement today, Brahm said that the new Teamwork at Brahm would have the strategic and creative support of a 150-strong agency.

"With leading food brands such as Young's and Warburton's already working with Brahm, this latest move is a natural development and a springboard for further success."

Updated: 09:42 Thursday, May 27, 2004