Chilled party food manufacturer SK and dips and deli fillings producer Zerba have a combined turnover of more than £160m and hires more than 1,150 people.
Compleat’s acquisition of the two companies will bump its own turnover to more than £900m and bring its total headcount to close to 5,000 employees.
Nick Field, chief executive at The Compleat Food Group, said: “We’re incredibly excited about these two significant additions and what they bring to the group, with both companies having strong heritage in their categories for creating great food that people love.
Planned investment
“We plan to continue investment in both companies to extend their respective capabilities, allowing us to further innovate and inspire within their categories.”
The purchase of SK Foods and Zorba Foods is the latest in a string of acquisitions by The Compleat Food Group.
In October last year, Compleat acquired plant-based cheese maker Palace Culture for an undisclosed sum, building on the group’s portfolio of existing plant-based properties – including meat-alternatives brand Squeaky Bean and chilled pickles and ferments brand Vadasz.
Meanwhile, 2021 saw the chilled food powerhouse acquire Crewe-based Wrights Food Group, the savoury bakery, sweet pastry and ready meals manufacturer.
‘Real food values’
SK Foods and Zorba chief executive Jeremy Faulkner added: “At the heart of both SK Foods and Zorba is a commitment to real food values. It’s what our reputations have been founded on and why we are able to say that we are category leaders.
“With The Compleat Food Group, we have found a natural partner who not only shares our values, but also the ambition to invest and support us in driving further innovation and growth for our categories and key partners.”
News of Compleat’s acquisitions comes less than a week after it announced the appointment of Tom Riley as its new chief financial officer.
Acquisitions at a glance
SK Foods
Formed in 1987, Teesside-based SK Foods employs over 770 people and specialises in high-quality, globally inspired party foods including Indian, Oriental, Tex Mex, Mediterranean, and Traditional British favourites.
It holds around 40% of the market share for private label party foods outside of the Christmas period and became part of The Entrepreneurial Food Group in 1999.
Zorba Foods
South Wales-based Zorba Foods was formed in 1976. Now employing nearly 380 people at its Gwent site, it started out creating authentic Greek houmous, before expanding to cover a range of Greek, Traditional, Tex Mex and Asian-inspired dips and sauces, alongside soups, for retail and foodservice.
It holds around 25% share of the private label dips market and became part of the Entrepreneurial Food Group in 2003.
