UK: Calbee to buy Seabrook crisp brand

Japanese snack producer Calbee, through its UK subsidiary, has announced the acquisition of savoury snack manufacturer Seabrook.

Based in Bradford, Seabrook produces a range of crinkle cut, straight cut and lattice crisps, as well as low-calorie snacks. The brand’s crisps are available in sea salt and red wine vinegar, cream cheese and chives, and lamb and mint flavours.

In a statement, the company said: “Through the acquisition of Seabrook brand in the main potato chips category, we aim to strengthen Calbee business in the UK snack market, the largest one in Europe, and further expand the Calbee Group business in Europe”.

Commenting on the deal, Calbee UK managing director Richard Robinson added: “This is an exciting development which will allow us to combine and further leverage the skills and brands of two ambitious players in the UK savoury snack market – building an even more dynamic, innovative and effective snack business going forward. We firmly believe it will prove to be good news for both business and the UK snack industry as a whole”.

Source: Calbee / Foodbev