UK: Nomad Foods set to acquire Aunt Bessie’s business

Nomad Foods, the UK-based frozen food giant, has reached an agreement to acquire the Aunt Bessie’s business from William Jackson & Son in a deal worth €240 million ($281 million).

Aunt Bessie’s is a leading manufacturer and distributor of frozen foods in the United Kingdom. Frozen Yorkshire puddings and frozen potatoes together account for most of the brand’s revenues, with the company holding number one and number two market share positions for these products respectively.

The acquisition of Aunt Bessie’s, which includes a production facility in Hull, further expands Nomad Foods frozen foods portfolio. The company already owns brands including Birds Eye, Findus and Goodfella’s Pizza, the latter acquired earlier this year.

Commenting on the deal, Nomad Foods’ chief executive Stefan Descheemaeker said: “Aunt Bessie’s iconic brand, positive values and strong product credentials align well with our existing portfolio. As our second accretive acquisition in 2018, Aunt Bessie’s represents another step toward our goal of transforming the frozen food category and building a portfolio of best-in-class food brands. Aunt Bessie’s significantly expands our presence within potatoes, one of the largest categories in frozen food, while adding another dimension to our growing portfolio in the United Kingdom”.

Source: Nomad Foods/ Insider Media