Private equity-backed fresh food manufacturer The Compleat Food Group has acquired Harvey & Brockless, with a view to growing its customer base across retail and foodservice.
FFD understands that the deal won’t affect how the distributor, which specialises in cheese, charcuterie and deli items, deals with its independent retail customers. It will continue to employ its 500 staff, overseen by the current management team.
The Compleat Food Group was created in 2021 aiming to become the UK’s biggest chilled prepared food company. It offers a selection of pastry products, deli and plant-based items via its portfolio of food brands, which include classic pork pie maker Pork Farms; sausage roll, pie and pasty brand, Walls Pastry; savoury products, cake and confectionary company, Wrights Food Group; Mediterranean deli foods brand, Unearthed; pickles and ferments maker Vadasz; plant-based meat alternative producer Squeaky Bean and vegan cheese company, Palace Culture.
The acquisition marks Compleat’s third this year, after buying private label suppliers SK Foods and Zorba Foods. It expects the latest addition to edge its annual turnover past the £1 billion mark.
53 year-old Harvey & Brockless’ portfolio includes the UK’s largest collection of British farmhouse cheeses (as well as Continentals); British and continental charcuterie; own brand sauces, dips, accompaniments and store cupboard ingredients. It now supplies both the independent retail sector and high-end foodservice outlets such as The Ritz, The Savoy, Harrods, The Dorchester, as well as five-star hotels and airlines in the UAE.
The Compleat Food Group CEO Nick Field said he was “delighted” to welcome Harvey & Brockless to the group, praising its long heritage of sourcing the best speciality food from around the world ”which aligns perfectly with our mission of creating great quality food that people love to eat”.
Meanwhile, Harvey & Brockless managing director, Nick Martin, said that “in The Compleat Food Group we have found a partner who shares our passion for great food and will help us to grow and fulfil our future ambitions. I and the rest of the leadership team are looking forward to working with The Compleat Food Group as we continue on the next stage of Harvey & Brockless’ journey.”
This article first appeared in the October-November edition of Fine Food Digest.
