Yeo Valley Production Acquires The Collective Brand
Source: dairynews.today
Yeo Valley Production has acquired the UK branch of The Collective brand, in a sale facilitated by Thomson Snell & Passmore.
Kent-headquartered law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore advised private equity-backed Epicurean Dairy Holdings on the sale of Epicurean Dairy (UK) and The Collective brand in the UK to Yeo Valley Production. This acquisition brings together the manufacturing capabilities of Yeo Valley Production and the innovative, taste-led products for which The Collective is renowned.
The partnership is set to provide more opportunities for The Collective to deliver premium products to British consumers. Yeo Valley Production, which employs more than 1,700 people across five sites in Somerset and Devon, has been producing dairy in the UK since 1976. It is independently owned by the Mead family and its employees in an Employee Benefit Trust.
The Collective, which began in New Zealand and expanded to the UK in 2011, has been renowned for delivering premium yoghurt products to the market. Sarah Smart, chief executive at The Collective UK, said: "Yeo Valley Production is a long-time partner of The Collective and has played a key role in the brand's success over the years. The alignment of our businesses’ values and visions to deliver natural, healthy, great-tasting and sustainable food makes Yeo Valley the perfect home for the next stage of The Collective's growth."
"We are grateful to Thomson Snell & Passmore for their support throughout the transaction. They expertly navigated a complex deal across markets and time zones, and their professionalism was invaluable." Rob Sexton, chief executive at Yeo Valley Production Limited, added: "We are delighted to welcome The Collective into the Yeo Valley family. The brand’s reputation for market-leading taste and its commitment to sustainability make it a perfect fit. Together, we will drive growth and continue to deliver great-tasting dairy to British consumers."
Faye Cook, corporate/M&A partner at Thomson Snell & Passmore, led the transaction team. She was supported by Rachel Macmillan and Harry Roffey in the Corporate/M&A team, with additional expertise provided by Nitzan Cohen on tax, Mathew Boyle on pensions, and Ben Stepney and Freya Vale on employment and commercial/data/IP. Faye Cook said: "This deal highlights the strength of our core Corporate/M&A team and our wider commercial group. We leveraged our expertise in cross-border, private equity-backed transactions to secure a successful outcome for our client. It was a pleasure to work with The Collective team and Yeo Valley, and we look forward to seeing their shared vision come to fruition."
The partnership is set to provide more opportunities for The Collective to deliver premium products to British consumers. Yeo Valley Production, which employs more than 1,700 people across five sites in Somerset and Devon, has been producing dairy in the UK since 1976. It is independently owned by the Mead family and its employees in an Employee Benefit Trust.
The Collective, which began in New Zealand and expanded to the UK in 2011, has been renowned for delivering premium yoghurt products to the market. Sarah Smart, chief executive at The Collective UK, said: "Yeo Valley Production is a long-time partner of The Collective and has played a key role in the brand's success over the years. The alignment of our businesses’ values and visions to deliver natural, healthy, great-tasting and sustainable food makes Yeo Valley the perfect home for the next stage of The Collective's growth."
"We are grateful to Thomson Snell & Passmore for their support throughout the transaction. They expertly navigated a complex deal across markets and time zones, and their professionalism was invaluable." Rob Sexton, chief executive at Yeo Valley Production Limited, added: "We are delighted to welcome The Collective into the Yeo Valley family. The brand’s reputation for market-leading taste and its commitment to sustainability make it a perfect fit. Together, we will drive growth and continue to deliver great-tasting dairy to British consumers."
Faye Cook, corporate/M&A partner at Thomson Snell & Passmore, led the transaction team. She was supported by Rachel Macmillan and Harry Roffey in the Corporate/M&A team, with additional expertise provided by Nitzan Cohen on tax, Mathew Boyle on pensions, and Ben Stepney and Freya Vale on employment and commercial/data/IP. Faye Cook said: "This deal highlights the strength of our core Corporate/M&A team and our wider commercial group. We leveraged our expertise in cross-border, private equity-backed transactions to secure a successful outcome for our client. It was a pleasure to work with The Collective team and Yeo Valley, and we look forward to seeing their shared vision come to fruition."
