The new company, Tonrose (incorporating Joshua Hoyle), will be based at Tonrose’s Manchester headquarters, additionally using Joshua Hoyle’s Rossendale site.

Tony Sheldon will now act as MD of the merged company, with Lord Sheldon as chairman. Tonrose’s Gill Saxon will be the sales director and former Joshua Hoyle director, Peter Hill joins the board as sourcing and procurement director.

The two Lancashire-based companies have supplied UK hotels and restaurants for many years and have contracts with most of the major players in textile rental.

Commenting on the new company, Gill Saxon said “This is a great opportunity for us. We have now got the critical mass to be able to offer an across-the-board stock service for all the products in our catalogues, as well as the strength to market them effectively as we expand our business offerings.”