Danfood and Danish Specialities
Danfood was founded in the 1970’s as a supplier of Danish speciality foods the business has since grown and today serves a wide range of multiple, convenience and independent retailers throughout UK.
The core range of Danish seafood specialities remain – caviar, seafood soups, cockles, mussels and herrings – all packed under the Company’s “Spinnaker” brand. To this has been added the hugely popular “Danfood” Onion Crispies the perfect addition to dishes as wide ranging as salads, gravy and mashed potato.
Good Food and Gifts are able to offer a range of ambient Danish specialities direct to the consumer including the Danfood range – Spinnaker soup, caviar, cockles, mussels, tinned salmon, as well as Danfood chicken and salad onions. Their comprehensive portfolio of Danish fine foods and confectionery provides a perfect selection for Danes and fans of “Danish foods.
PRESS RELEASE: Fosters Traditional Foods acquires The Fudge Tree Company
Fosters Traditional Foods Ltd have announced the acquisition of The Fudge Tree Company on 10th October 08
The Fudge Tree Company, established in 1996 has over 1000 customers and specialises in high quality food gifts into the tourist and leisure sectors, principally in the South West and Channel Islands. Famous for Black Butter Fudge, unique novelty ranges and fantastic service, The Fudge Tree offers a solution to all types of customer’s requirements.
Fosters Traditional Foods Ltd established 1973, are market leaders in speciality food, serving more than 4000 customers across the UK’s garden centre, farmshop, independent and delicatessen markets. Fosters are based in Market Harborough and have 125 employees, 2500 product lines and its own distribution network and bespoke warehousing.
Part of Blueberry Group Ltd, Fosters Traditional Foods’ sister companies are The Foodfinders – sourcing specialist food products from around the world for Department stores, Business to Business and Hamper Companies, The Treat Company – innovative merchandised Pick ‘n Mix solutions for the independent trade www.thetreatcompany.com , and Chambers Candy Company – high quality packers of personalised gift sweets for leisure and export markets.
Earlier this year Blueberry also acquired the goodwill and assets of Danfood Ltd – specialist importers and distributors of fish products, crispy onions, soups and pates to the multiple trade under the Danfood and Spinnaker Brands.
Fudge Tree will continue to serve the South west with a full range of original products but will also be able to offer from the new year the full Fosters range of around 1500 new products to existing and new customers.
Mick, Jason and Justin Carter will continue with the business working alongside Rob Tanner – Sales Executive for Cornwall and Richard Levers from the Fosters Team.
Following the buyout of Danfood in June, this second acquisition marks the start of an accelerated growth programme initiated by Blueberry Group since substantial investment by Close Brothers Growth Capital in February this year. The business has further invested heavily in systems and people and is already seeing significant growth despite the economic and competitive market place. Group MD Mike Thorne said, “With further acquisitions targeted for the New Year our business is strongly placed for an exciting future as the country’s leading supplier of speciality foods to the independent market place. We’ve a great team now and despite our combined £25m turnover, we are really still a small business with a real passion for food and commitment to service for all our many and varied customers”.
Blueberry Group and Close Brothers
Close Growth Capital (CGC), the one stop shop hybrid equity and debt finance provider, has backed The Blueberry Group. Providing an exit for 3i who backed the original buyout in 2005. The Blueberry Group is the UK’s leading supplier and distributor of speciality ambient food to the premium independent retail market including: garden centres, farm shops, department stores and speciality food retailers. The Blueberry Group incorporates Fosters Traditional Foods, The Foodfinders and Chambers Candy Company and all continue to trade under their own names.
Close Growth Capital was started in 1999 to provide combined equity and debt funding to UK SMEs. They invest in mid-market businesses in all sectors, but have a proven track record in: business support services, leisure, transport and distribution, consumer products and specialist engineering.
James Blake, who joins the Board of Blueberry on behalf of Close Growth Capital, said “Blueberry Group has a tremendously experienced management team that have a track record with private equity backed investments, having on three separate occasions delivered superior returns.”
“The business has a strong and profitable platform to achieve organic and acquisitive growth in a highly fragmented market where there are many complementary product lines suitable for acquisition and integration.”
Stuart Robinson and Mike Thorne have run a number of businesses within the food sector backed by private equity investors. Both will assume a greater role within the business. Mike will become CEO and Stuart will work as an executive director focusing on potential acquisitions. Bernard Cook has been appointed Chairman. Bernard has had many senior roles in the food sector including with RHM (Manor Bakeries, Mr Kipling). He has chaired a number of successful private equity backed food businesses.
Mike Thorne, CEO of The Blueberry Group said: “Specifically the UK garden centre and farm Shop markets are a buoyant and growing sector as a result of changing lifestyles and a greater disposable income amongst empty nesters. Currently we only supply to a quarter of the market demonstrating good opportunity for growth.”
