Celebrating 80 Years of Heritage, Innovation and Partnership

(1946–2026)

A British Company with a Global Outlook

In the history of British business, few companies have the privilege of reaching their 80th anniversary. Fewer still remain independent, family-led for generations, and continue to serve customers with the same values upon which they were founded.

Day-Impex Limited is one of those rare companies.

Founded on 22 July 1946 by Guy Berger and his brother-in-law David Yorke, Day-Impex has grown from a small post-war enterprise trading glass products and electric light bulbs into a respected international supplier serving scientific, laboratory, healthcare, cryogenic, industrial and biosecurity sectors throughout the United Kingdom and around the world.

The story of Day-Impex is more than a business history.

It is a story of entrepreneurship, family stewardship, resilience, innovation and an unwavering commitment to customers.

It is a story that spans three generations of leadership, eighty years of continuous operation and countless relationships built on trust, expertise and integrity.

Most importantly, it is a story that is still being written.

The Beginning

Guy Berger and David Yorke (1946)

The year was 1946.

Britain was rebuilding after the Second World War.
Industries were restarting, trade was recovering and a new generation of entrepreneurs was helping shape the future of the nation.

Among them were Guy Berger and his brother-in-law David Yorke.

Recognising the opportunities emerging in a rapidly changing world, they founded Day-Impex Limited on 22 July 1946.

Operating initially from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, the company focused on the import and export of specialist glass products and electric light bulbs.

At first glance these products may appear simple, but in post-war Britain they were essential to industry, research, healthcare and everyday life. The supply of quality glass products required expertise, reliability and strong international relationships.

From the very beginning, Guy Berger and David Yorke built the company on principles that would endure for generations:

• Integrity in business.
• Commitment to quality.
• Technical understanding.
• Exceptional customer service.
• Long-term partnerships.

Those principles became the foundation of Day-Impex.

What began as a specialist trading company would soon evolve into something much greater.

From Glassware to Scientific Excellence

As the United Kingdom entered the 1950s and 1960s, scientific research and industrial innovation expanded rapidly.

Universities grew.

Research institutions flourished.

Healthcare advanced.

Technology accelerated.

The demand for laboratory equipment, scientific glassware and specialist technical products increased significantly.

Day-Impex was perfectly positioned to support this growth.

The company's expertise in glass products naturally led into laboratory glassware, scientific apparatus and specialist equipment used by researchers, technicians and healthcare professionals.

Customers increasingly looked to Day-Impex not simply as a supplier, but as a trusted source of technical knowledge and specialist products.

The company expanded steadily, building strong relationships across laboratories, universities, hospitals, research facilities
and industrial organisations.

This evolution transformed Day-Impex from a trading business into a respected supplier serving scientific and technical communities throughout the United Kingdom.

The foundations laid by Guy Berger and David Yorke would prove remarkably strong.

The Second Generation

Graham Berger and Stuart Berger

As the company matured, leadership passed to the next generation.

Graham Berger and Stuart Berger, sons of founder Guy Berger, inherited not only a successful business but also the values upon which it had been built.

Working together as brothers and business partners, Graham and Stuart would go on to shape the next several decades of Day-Impex history.

Their contribution cannot be overstated.

Building upon the foundations established by their father and David Yorke, they transformed Day-Impex into a highly respected specialist supplier serving scientific, laboratory, healthcare and industrial sectors throughout the United Kingdom and internationally.

Through their leadership, the company expanded its product portfolio, strengthened supplier relationships and developed an enviable reputation for professionalism, reliability and expertise.

Many of the customer relationships established during this period lasted decades.

Many supplier partnerships became multi-generational.

Many employees spent significant portions of their careers with the business.

These achievements were not accidental.

They were the result of Graham and Stuart's commitment to treating customers, suppliers and colleagues with honesty, fairness and respect.

While many family businesses disappeared, merged or lost their identity, Day-Impex remained proudly independent.

The brothers understood that reputation is built over decades and protected every day.

That philosophy became one of the defining characteristics of the company.

Building a Reputation for Excellence

Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century and into the early twenty-first century, Day-Impex became recognised as a trusted partner within highly specialised markets.

The company developed expertise across:

• Scientific laboratories
• Universities and educational institutions
• Healthcare organisations
• Research facilities
• Industrial manufacturing
• Testing and analytical environments
• Cryogenic applications
• Specialist technical sectors

Rather than competing on volume alone, Day-Impex focused on providing expertise, service and value.

Customers valued the company's ability to source specialist products.

Suppliers valued its professionalism.

Industry partners valued its technical knowledge.

The Day-Impex name became synonymous with reliability and trust.

The DILVAC® Legacy

One of the most significant developments in the company's history was the growth and development of the DILVAC® range.

Over time, DILVAC® became a recognised name within cryogenic and laboratory environments, supporting customers who required dependable storage and handling solutions for temperature-sensitive materials.

The range earned a reputation for quality, reliability and performance.

It became an important part of the Day-Impex identity and reflected the company's commitment to serving specialist markets
with practical, high-quality solutions.

Today, DILVAC® remains one of the company's
flagship brands and continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of
laboratories, research facilities and industrial users worldwide.

Expanding into Health, Hygiene and Biosecurity

As healthcare, infection prevention and biosecurity became increasingly important across the globe, Day-Impex once again demonstrated its ability to evolve.

The company expanded into human health, animal health, hygiene and biosecurity sectors, working alongside leading manufacturers and supporting customers operating in critical environments.

This diversification further strengthened the business and reinforced its position as a trusted supplier of specialist products.

Whether supporting scientific research, healthcare facilities, agricultural operations or industrial environments, Day-Impex remained committed to providing products that help protect people, animals and environments.

Serving Customers Across the United Kingdom and Around the World

Although proudly British, Day-Impex has always maintained an international outlook.

From its earliest days importing and exporting glass products, the company recognised the importance of global trade and international partnerships.

Over the decades, Day-Impex established
relationships with manufacturers, distributors and customers throughout Europe, Asia, North America and other international markets.

These partnerships helped bring innovative products to customers within the United Kingdom while enabling Day-Impex products and expertise to reach customers around the world.

The company's success has always been built upon relationships.

Relationships with suppliers.

Relationships with customers.

Relationships with partners.

Those relationships continue to be one of the company's greatest strengths today.

A New Era Begins

David Jones and Judith Wilkins

In 2024, Day-Impex entered a new chapter in its remarkable history.

After nearly eight decades of Berger family ownership, stewardship of the business passed to David Jones and Judith Wilkins.

For many organisations, a change of ownership can represent uncertainty.

For Day-Impex, it represented continuity,
preservation and opportunity.

David and Judith recognised that they were not simply acquiring a company.

They were becoming custodians of a legacy built over eighty years.

A legacy established by Guy Berger and David Yorke.

A legacy developed and expanded by Graham and Stuart Berger.

A legacy respected by customers, suppliers and employees throughout the United Kingdom and internationally.

Their objective was clear:

Preserve the heritage.

Protect the reputation.

Invest in the future.

Building for the Next Generation

Since 2024, significant investment has been made in preparing Day-Impex for its next era of growth.

The business has embraced modernisation while maintaining the personal service and customer focus that have defined it since 1946.

Key initiatives include:

• Expansion of ecommerce operations.
• Digital transformation.
• Investment in infrastructure.
• Development of new product ranges.
• Expansion of the DILVAC® portfolio.
• Growth within human and animal health sectors.
• Strengthening international partnerships.
• Expansion within cryogenic and biosecurity markets.
• Long-term investment in operational capabilities.

The acquisition of Station Works marked another important milestone, demonstrating a commitment to securing a strong foundation for future growth.

Today, Day-Impex combines the heritage of an established British company with the ambition and vision of a modern
international organisation.

Looking Forward

The story of Day-Impex is ultimately a story about people.

It began with the entrepreneurial vision of Guy Berger and David Yorke.

It was built and expanded through the dedication of Graham and Stuart Berger.

Today, it continues under the stewardship of David Jones and Judith Wilkins.

Across three generations of leadership, one thing has remained constant:

A commitment to serving customers with integrity, expertise and professionalism.

Those values have carried Day-Impex through eight decades of economic change, technological advancement and global transformation.

They continue to guide the company today.

As Day-Impex celebrates its 80th anniversary, there is immense pride in the journey so far.

But there is even greater excitement for what lay ahead.

The next chapter is already being written.

DAY-IMPEX LIMITED

Three Generations. Eight Decades. One Vision.

Founded by Guy Berger and David Yorke in 1946.

Built and expanded by Graham Berger and Stuart Berger.

Preserved, modernised and grown by David Jones and Judith Wilkins.

Proudly serving Science, Healthcare, Industry and Innovation throughout the United Kingdom and around the world since 1946.