The Compleat Food Group has made two strategic acquisitions in the form of SK Foods and Zorba Foods from The Entrepreneurial Food Group as it looks to become the UK’s number one chilled prepared food company.
Backed by European private equity firm PAI Partners, The Compleat Food Group was formed in 2021 and currently employs over 3,800 people across 10 sites with an annual turnover in excess of £0.75bn. It is home to brands Pork Farms, Wall’s Pastry, unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Wrights and its most recent addition Palace Culture.
With a combined turnover of more than £160m and over 1,150 employees, the two food businesses claim to be market leaders in the private label chilled party foods and dips and the deli fillings markets.
With existing market share within the branded and private label chilled Mediterranean-deli and Olives and Antipasti categories, The Compleat Food Group is adding SK Foods and Zorba Delicacies’ complementary products to its growing portfolio, gaining access to a range of new categories and expanding its production capabilities.
Formed in 1987, Teesside-based SK Foods employs over 770 people and specialises in high-quality, globally inspired party foods including Indian, Oriental, Tex Mex, Mediterranean, and Traditional British favourites. It holds around 40% of the market share for private label party foods outside of the Christmas period and became part of The Entrepreneurial Food Group in 1999.
Read more: HT Drinks to pursue acquisitions in latest growth strategy
South Wales-based Zorba Foods was formed in 1976. Now employing nearly 380 people at its Gwent site, it started out creating authentic Greek houmous, before expanding to cover a range of Greek, Traditional, Tex Mex and Asian-inspired dips and sauces, alongside soups, for retail and foodservice. It holds around 25% share of the private label dips market and became part of the Entrepreneurial Food Group in 2003.
Nick Field, chief executive at The Compleat Food Group, said: “We’re incredibly excited about these two significant additions and what they bring to the group, with both companies having strong heritage in their categories for creating great food that people love. We plan to continue investment in both companies to extend their respective capabilities, allowing us to further innovate and inspire within their categories.
“For The Compleat Food Group, these acquisitions accelerate our commitment to build on our breadth of capability, increase our category leadership position, and deliver more excitement and interest to delight our consumers, driving sustained growth in the sector.”
Jeremy Faulkner, chief executive of both SK Foods and Zorba, said: “At the heart of both SK Foods and Zorba is a commitment to real food values. It’s what our reputations have been founded on and why we are able to say that we are category leaders.
“With The Compleat Food Group, we have found a natural partner who not only shares our values, but also the ambition to invest and support us in driving further innovation and growth for our categories and key partners.”
