Orkla expands UK footprint with acquisition of B2B biscuit supplier Phoenix Brands
With the acquisition, OV UK strengthens their position within the sweet inclusions category and supports the further development of manufacturing capabilities in the UK market.
UK – Orchard Foods Valley Ltd (OV UK), a prominent subsidiary of Norwegian industrial conglomerate Orkla Food Ingredients (OFI), has finalized an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Phoenix Brands Ltd.
Based in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, Phoenix Brands is a well-established British manufacturer specializing in biscuits and baked inclusions for the business-to-business (B2B) food sector.
The deal brings Phoenix Brands’ production site and product range, including digestives, bourbons and shortcake, into Orkla Food Ingredients’ (OFI) UK platform, enhancing OV UK’s capabilities in the sweet inclusions category and supporting further development of local manufacturing capacity.
Neither party has disclosed the financial terms of the transaction.
Founded in 1998, Phoenix Brands operates a modern, 30,000-square-foot, computer-controlled manufacturing facility equipped with advanced robotics.
The company employs approximately 40 people and produces a highly specialized portfolio of biscuit crumbs, pieces, and shaped components, including digestives, bourbons, shortcake, and ginger crumbs.
These items serve as crucial texturizing and flavoring components, known in the trade as sweet inclusions, for prominent industrial food manufacturers across the bakery, dairy, confectionery, and dessert sectors.
The acquisition aligns with Orkla’s broader corporate strategy to consolidate its position within specialized food ingredient niches that exhibit resilient market fundamentals.
By integrating Phoenix Brands into OV UK’s existing network, which already spans five manufacturing facilities across the United Kingdom, Orkla expects to deepen its manufacturing capacities and enhance its value-driven product offerings for industrial and artisanal clients nationwide.
Coen Louwerse, CEO of OV UK, highlighted that Phoenix Brands represents a strong strategic fit due to its scalable operating platform and long-standing client relationships within the sweet inclusions niche.
Executives at OFI’s Sweet Ingredients division reiterated that the transaction supports their long-term ambition to cultivate market-leading positions in targeted industrial segments.
Following the ownership transition, Andy Richards, the founder and current managing director of Phoenix Brands, will remain with the business to ensure operational continuity and oversee its integration into the Orkla group.
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