The deal sees the ownership of the brand move from the Hacking family, who founded the business in 1940.
The acquisition by Zertus builds of on its existing portfolio of customer branded ranges for the UK’s leading retailers and sees it compliment its existing businesses in the healthier snacking sector. Zertus already produces NOMO, the free-from chocolate brand; Baileys Chocolates which are in partnership with Diageo; The Fruit Factory, kids snacking brand; and Forest of Hope, the recently launched kids fair trade chocolate brand; and Kinnerton Confectionery and Lir Chocolates.
Strong acquisition
Sun Valley is a supplier of peanut and nut based snacking products through the private label, food service and food ingredients channels. Sun Valley supply nuts, peanut butters and crisps under its own ‘The Sun Valley Nut Co’ and ‘Nuts For’ brands. That acquisition has been led by Paul Tripp, chief executive officer, Zertus UK & Ireland, who recently joined the international Zertus GmBH management board as managing director.
“This is a strong acquisition for Zertus in the UK and one that complements our existing businesses in the healthier snacking sector,” said Tripp, who took the helm at Zertus UK & I in 2019. Previous roles have included co-founder of Scrummmptious, managing director at Humdinger Foods and managing director of Soreen Bakery.
Innovation
“It will allow us to leverage our combined innovation and operational competencies to drive growth through exciting new products while enabling us to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations”.
Jim Hacking, chairman of Sun Valley Nut Company, said: “We believe that in Zertus we have found the right long-term owner for the business. We’re confident that Zertus can make the necessary investments needed to take the business to the next level whilst preserving the heritage of the Sun Valley business we have lovingly built over the last 72 years”.
Sun Valley has three operational facilities spread across two sites based in Bromborough, Wirral, which Zertus will take over operations for, with production of Sun Valley to continue on-site.
