Blakemans, the manufacturers of sausages for the foodservice industry, has been sold to Yorkshire food producer Cranswick.
Headquartered in Staffordshire, Blakemans is a family business that has been manufacturing specialist raw and cooked sausage and meat products for over 70 years.
The business, which employs a total workforce of approximately 290, has a particularly strong foothold in the UK foodservice market and is a leading supplier of sausages to UK fish and chip shops; and also supplies products to leading manufacturers of prepared meals.
The acquisition is complementary to Cranswick’s existing added-value gourmet business, adding capacity in raw and cooked sausage production whilst enabling efficient supply into the foodservice market.
Founding family members, and current CEO and finance director of Blakemans, Philip Blakeman and Susan Cope, said: “We are excited to have the opportunity to become part of the Cranswick business. The two businesses compliment each other in so many ways and we also look forward to working with the management at Cranswick to continue producing quality products into the foodservice sector.”
Cranswick’s chief executive officer, Adam Couch, said: “I am delighted to announce the acquisition of Blakemans, a well-invested, leading foodservice sausage manufacturer. Blakemans is highly complementary to our existing added-value Gourmet business. We look forward to welcoming the entire Blakemans team to Cranswick and to working with them to develop the business further.”
Mark Lynch, partner at Oghma Partners, which acted as financial advisor to the shareholders of Blakemans, said: “Working with Phil and Sue and all the team at Blakemans was a great pleasure for us; we are thrilled to have found an ideal Partner for the business in Cranswick who will be able to help build on the success of the business to date.”