Bakkavor Group Purchises Desserts Business

Bakkavor Group, a provider of fresh prepared food, announces that will purchase the trade and assets of Blueberry Foods, a desserts business owned by Samworth Brothers Limited.

Blueberry operates from a custom-built facility in Leicestershire, the UK, with approximately 420 employees and produces a range of desserts for the UK’s leading grocery retailers. A capital investment of more than GBP10m over the last 18 months has expanded the factory footprint and upgraded equipment to deliver new capabilities and competencies. In the financial year ended  December 31, 2018, revenues were GBP42m and the business made a loss of GBP1m at an EBITDA level.

The acquisition of Blueberry is a strong strategic fit, considers Bakkavor, and it will build on its chilled desserts business, while providing both additional capacity and new capabilities such as hot desserts; increase efficiency  over the medium term as they incorporate Blueberry into their existing business and further strengthen the desserts offer to their two largest customers.

Agust Gudmundsson, chief executive officer of Bakkavor, said:“The acquisition of Blueberry is a great strategic fit for Bakkavor. Together with our recent addition of Haydens Bakery and a major investment at our site at Newark, our long-term commitment to growing our desserts category in the UK is clear. The team at Blueberry share our passion for providing outstanding service, quality and value to customers and we look forward to welcoming them to the Group.”