AN award-winning East Lancashire e-liquid manufacture has announced the acquisition of an Irish vaping business in an undisclosed seven figure deal.

Darwen-based Vampire Vape says the purchase of Total Vapour, the largest e-cigarette distributor in Ireland, strengthens its international expansion and builds on the brand’s growth plans for the future.

Established in 2012, Vampire Vape now operates in over 80 countries globally via a network of franchises, distributors and resellers.

Bosses at the firm, whose headquarters are on Global Way, said they plan to expand the company with further future acquisitions.

Phil Boyle, a director at Vampire Vape, said: “Total Vapour are specialists in e-cigarette hardware, so it was a natural fit for us to purchase the company to continue to develop our growth strategy.

"This acquisition helps to strengthen and secure our distribution platform in a key market, whilst also bringing on board expertise on hardware which historically only represented a small share of our product offering.”

Mr Boyle said Total Vapour’s operating model will remain unchanged, with shared efficiencies to be evaluated going forwards as part of the company’s wider continuous improvement programme.

He also said that within the next five years, directors at Vampire Vape plan to significantly grow the company via an organic growth strategy, and will continue to seek appropriate acquisition opportunities where, like with Total Vapour, mutual benefits exist.

Mr Boyle added: “The acquisition of Total Vapour is a huge leap forward for us in building a one-stop solution for our customers, be that a broader product offering, additional expertise, and the capacity to fulfil a greater number of our customer’s needs.”

Blackburn with Darwen regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said: "These are obviously terribly strange and difficult times. It's good to know there are still companies in the borough who are making progress and we wish them well."

In 2018 Vampire Vape took home the Manufacturing, Innovation And Technology Excellence and Growth Business at the Blackburn with Darwen Hive Business Awards.