Faccenda Group Acquires Cranberry Foods

The deal complements Faccenda’s recent announcement for its planned internal investment at its Telford and Brackley sites and creates a major cross sector food business with significant penetration in the UK’s growing retail and food service sector.

3 May 2012 --- Faccenda Group Ltd, one of the UK’s leading food producers, is announcing the acquisition of Cranberry Foods Ltd, the UK’s second biggest turkey producer. The deal will see Faccenda become one of the UK’s largest food manufacturers with a turnover of c. £400 million.

Faccenda Group is a privately owned family business that has been a leading supplier of fresh chicken products for 50 years. It employs 2000 people in hatcheries, farms, feed mills and processing plants across the UK.

Cranberry Food supplies the UK’s leading supermarkets, and food service sector. The company has 750 employees and a turnover of c. £100m. Its factory sites include processing plants in Scropton, Derbyshire and Abergavenny, South Wales while its farming operation stretches from Yorkshire to South Wales.

The deal complements Faccenda’s recent announcement for its planned internal investment at its Telford and Brackley sites and creates a major cross sector food business with significant penetration in the UK’s growing retail and food service sector.

Andy Dawkins, Managing Director of Faccenda Group Ltd says: “This is an exciting and important acquisition for Faccenda and its employees, making us one of the UK’s largest food producers. The clear synergies between our two businesses mean our customers will continue to enjoy an expert and trusted service, while allowing us to grow the scale and range of our products.”

Cranberry Foods’ Joint Managing Directors Andrew Lewins and David Horn will remain with the business in their existing positions until a smooth transition into the Faccenda group has taken place. Mr Horn said: “Cranberry Foods has quickly become one of two major turkey producers in the UK since we founded the company in 2003. Our success has been built on a commitment to product quality, service and integrity – all of which we share with Faccenda.”

Mr Lewins said: “We are delighted to be joining the Faccenda family. They have been a UK success story for many years and share our commitment to British farming. Through this acquisition Cranberry gains the benefits of being part of a larger food business that seeks to build on its existing strengths and successes. It heralds a new era for Cranberry Foods and its employees.”