Biggest acquisitions of 2024
The past year has seen plenty of M&A activity within the food and drink industry, including deals for Kellanova, Britvic and Princes.
Investments
UK Export Finance fuels festive SME success
Christmas is almost here! Meet four SME F&B brands creating festive delights, backed by UK Export Finance.
Louis Dreyfus Company acquiring new health business
Louis Dreyfus Company to acquire BASF’s Food and Health Performance Ingredients Business for an undisclosed amount.
I'Anson Brothers completes £20m feed mill
North Yorkshire-based I’Anson Bros has completed construction of a new £20m animal feed mill, Waterloo House.
Unilever sells historical brands
Zwanenberg Food Group to acquire the Unox and Zwan brands from Unilever, following the recent acquisition of Conimex by Paulig.
Bird Bros hatches £1m robot investment plan
Egg producer Bird Bros has hatched a £1m plan to improve efficiency and sustainability at its Bedfordshire headquarters by investing in robot automation equipment.
Lucozade owner invests £6m in factory sustainability
Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I) is to invest £6m into its Coleford factory to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by 2026.
DB Foods unveils new Dorset factory following £3m investment
UK meat distributor DB Foods has opened a new 15,000 sq. ft. production facility at its headquarters in Dorset.
F&B producers limiting investments in face of new regulations
While two fifths of UK food and drink businesses plan to maintain or increase investment over the coming year, uncertainty over what new regulations will bring is limiting further opportunity.
Pork Pie maker secures five-figure investment
Dudley-based pork pie maker T.C. Morris has secured a five-figure funding deal from UKSE to support the next stage of the business’s growth as it moves to larger premises.
New partnership to plug investment gender gap
£250bn could be added to UK economy if access to finance for women matched their male counterparts.
Food and drink M&A outlook for 2025
As 2025 approaches, James Scallan and Javier Chiquero of investment bank Houlihan Lokey assess the current food and drink industry mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape and discuss what lies ahead in the new year.
Allied Bakeries invests in transport and logistics operations
Allied Bakeries has announced a significant investment in its national transport and logistics operations, strengthening its fleet with the addition of 68 new vehicles from DAF Trucks.
November food and drink investment round-up
Check out our round-up of the major investments that were announced across the food and drink industry throughout November 2024.
Ty Nant expands its UK influence with duo of acquisitions
Premium bottled water brand Ty Nant has acquired Fonthill Water and Decantae Mineral Water from the US-based Primo Water Corporation, expanding its reach in the UK and cementing itself as the country’s fastest growing bottled water company.
One Rock Capital Partners completes purchase of Burts Snacks owner
One Rock Capital Partners has completed its acquisition of crisp manufacturer Burts Snacks owner Europe Snacks.
Typhoo acquired from administration in £10.2m deal
FMCG firm Supreme has acquired Typhoo Tea out of administration in a deal worth more than £10m.
Waitrose opens first new store in six years
Grocery retailer Waitrose has opened the doors to its first new store in more than half a decade.
Unilever completes £40m investment into Burton site
Unilever’s largest UK food factory in Burton has seen a five-year transformation period, following a £40m investment which brings its UK condiments production into one specialist hub.
News
Food Manufacture has a new website
Food Manufacture has unveiled a brand-new website as part of our continued commitment to developing top-tier digital offerings.
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Three-Sixty Aquaculture closes £3.5m funding round
Three-Sixty Aquaculture has completed a £3.5m series A funding round to support the creation of a new facility in Wales.
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Lincoln & York invests £1m into high-speed line
The independent coffee producer has marked its 30th birthday with a major investment into its Brigg roastery.
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Alternative protein innovation falls
Innovation in plant-based and cultivated meat has dropped, according to the latest patent data from Appleyard Lees.
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Bakery seeks rescue deal to save 100 jobs, 13 locations
Lancashire bakery business Oddie’s has announced that it is seeking a rescue deal after a potential sale fell through.
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Tate & Lyle closes £1.4bn CP Kelco acquisition
F&B giant Tate & Lyle has completed the acquisition on CP Kelco for $1.8bn (approximately £1.4bn).
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Typhoo Tea files notice to appoint administrators
Typhoo Tea has filed a court notice to appoint administrators in the hopes of selling the business as it continues to struggle in a declining market.
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Lidl £6bn ahead of investment target
Supermarket chain Lidl is on track to exceed its five-year investment commitment by £6bn, new figures show.
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Healthy NPD deserves financial backing, FDF tells Gov
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has called on the UK Government to provide greater financial support for SMEs investing in healthier product innovation.
New
Gravity Drinks secures £4.5m finance package to support export growth
Premium spirits producer Gravity Drinks has secured a £4.5m finance package to support export growth and meet seasonal spikes in international demand.
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Kerry Group agrees to €500m sale of Kerry Dairy Ireland
Kerry Group has entered into an agreement with Kerry Co-Operative Creameries to sell Kerry Dairy Ireland in a deal worth €500m, or approximately £414m.
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Kepak acquires Summit Foods
Meat processor Kepak has acquired chilled and frozen convenience food firm Summit Foods for an undisclosed sum.
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Investigation clears Arla Food Ingredients to acquire Volac's Whey Nutrition business
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded its investigation into the anticipated acquisition of Volac Whey Nutrition Holdings by Arla Food Ingredients.
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KP Snacks to acquire Whole Earth Foods
UK food manufacturer KP Snacks has agreed to acquire Whole Earth Foods from Ecotone.
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Julienne Bruno takes home share of €900k innovation fund
UK plant-based food brand Julienne Bruno was one of four food and drink businesses to take home a share of €900k of funding from EIT Food’s Fast Track to Market Initiative.
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Egg producer rolls out £2.4m AI grading equipment
Egg producer Farmlay has invested £2.4m in new AI-based computer vision technology as part of a plan to double productivity for 2025.
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Zuber Issa steps down from Asda board after completing share sale
Zuber Issa has completed the sale of his 22.5% stake in Asda to TDR Capital for an undisclosed fee.
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Snacking category outlook: M&A activity on the rise
As we emerge from an incredibly trying period for the food and drink industry, 2024 has seen several high profile deals take place. James Scallan, managing director of Houlihan Lokey’s consumer group, explains why the snacking category in particular is...
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Sainsbury’s extends Aldi price match to smaller stores
Sainsbury's has announced that it is matching more than 500 own-label and branded products to Aldi prices across its estate of convenience stores.
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£762m GXO acquisition of Wincanton could 'lessen' logistics competition
An investigation into GXO’s purchase of Wincanton has concluded that the deal could reduce competition within the UK contract logistics services market.
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Global Brands partners with US cocktail mixers producer
VK and Hooch owner Global Brands has partnered with American Beverage Marketers (ABM) to serve as the US firms’ official distributor throughout Great Britain.
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Government investing £16m into manufacturing innovation project
Thousands more SME businesses will benefit from Made Smarter funding as UK Government commits to spending £16m to extend its technology adoption programme.
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ManiLife to open £1m peanut butter factory
Peanut butter brand ManiLife has announced plans to open a £1m production facility in Shirebrook, Derbyshire.
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Cadman Capital Group acquires Welsh microbrewery
Cadman Capital Group has acquired craft brewer Aglesey Ales as its founders retire.
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Panesar Foods acquired by Paulig for undisclosed fee
UK manufacturer of sauces, salsas and condiments Panesar Foods has been acquired by Finnish F&B firm Paulig.
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Gluten-free Macaron maker acquired by high street baker
Hilton Macarons – a national supplier of hand-made, gluten-free sweet treats – has been acquired by East Anglian bakery group Two Magpies.
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Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney become Wrexham Lager co-owners
Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have become co-owners of Wrexham Lager after purchasing a stake in the Welsh brewer.
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Cupcakes By Sophia secures investment in Made Smarter funding round
Baked goods manufacturer Cupcakes By Sophia was one on 23 new companies to have secured grants from Made Smarter.
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Budget reaction from food and drink industry
Figures from across the food and drink manufacturing sector have reacted to the 2024 Autumn Budget, announced on 30 October by chancellor Rachel Reeves.
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Sysco acquires Campbell’s Prime Meat
Sysco GB has added Scottish specialist meat supplier Campbell Prime’s Meat into its fold, acquiring the business for an undisclosed sum.
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Protein Works invests in £10m vertically integrated HQ
Shakes and meal replacement manufacturer Protein Works has invested £10m vertically integrated headquarters to bring all the disparate parts of its business under one roof.