The IUF's Private Equity Buyout Watch

Burton’s Biscuits, the UK’s second largest biscuit manufacturer (after private equity-owned United Biscuits), has announced it will close its factory in Moreton, Merseyside, with the loss of 342 jobs, despite commitments to the union at the site that production would continue through May 2012. Workers at the plant, represented by Unite the Union, are being squeezed by two converging financial forces: transnational food giant Kraft, for whom Burton’s manufactures Cadbury biscuits and chocolate products, and Burton’s private equity owners.

Continue reading "Kraft and Private Equity Slash and Burn at UK’s Burton’s Biscuits" »

Posted on March 24, 2011 05:31 PM | Permalink

The UK's Peter's Food Service, a manufacturing and food service distributor of pastry products, has been bought by private equity investors' NBGI, who paid GBP 20 million for majority ownership combined with an equity stake from the current management.

Continue reading "Food Buyouts Roll on in UK" »

Posted on November 8, 2007 11:48 AM | Permalink

Burton’s Foods, the UK's second largest biscuit manufacturer, announced it will slash up to 660 jobs just two months after the company was acquired by the private equity fund Duke Street Capital.

Continue reading "Burton's Foods (UK) to cut 660 jobs, two months after Duke Street Capital buyout" »

Posted on May 14, 2007 05:54 AM | Permalink

“The company behind Wagon Wheels and Jammie Dodgers was yesterday snapped up by Duke Street Capital, the private equity firm, in an estimated £210 million deal. Duke Street saw off competition from Jacob Fruitfield Food Group, the Irish owner of Jacob’s Fig Rolls and Jacob’s Cream Crackers, in the final round of bidding to seal a deal with Burton’s Foods, Britain’s second-biggest biscuit maker. “

Continue reading: ‘Private equity firm takes Burton’s biscuits with £210m purchase’, The Times, 19 March 2007.

Posted on March 19, 2007 08:19 PM | Permalink