Bidvest Fresh has bought Knight Meats for an undisclosed sum, boosting its business in hospitality, catering and the public sector.
Vendors James & Carol Knight brought the deal to a successful conclusion on Friday 1 April 2016.
Established in 1992, Knight Meats is a market leading, premium quality catering butcher, which provides a comprehensive range of fresh meat, poultry and deli products to the professional kitchen sector.
The company, which is based in Chlemsford, Essex, supplies a variety of customers, including many prime quality hotels, restaurants, contract caterers, as well as an increasing number of schools and colleges.
Bidvest Fresh supplies national and independent customers within the catering industry with fresh ingredients including fish and seafood, meat, produce, dairy products and ambient goods.
It offers delivery of all of its ingredients directly to customers’ kitchens in temperature controlled vehicles.
The Camlee Group acted as lead advisors on the deal.
Jim Knight, md of Knight Meats, commented: “Camlee had a very active and hands on role in the management of this process right from the beginning. [Project director] Paul [Thompson] was proactive and remained positive throughout, and took ownership and responsibility of key issues without hesitation.
“Camlee’s experience and technical expertise was extremely helpful and I’m pleased that I selected Camlee as my corporate finance advisors in the first place.”
Thompson added: “We are thrilled to have facilitated this deal on behalf of our clients.
“Bidvest was identified as a likely acquirer for our client at a very early stage and although there were a number of competing offers, Bidvest demonstrated their desire and commitment by firming up their initial interest quickly and negotiated hard to deliver a deal that our clients were unable to refuse.”
Bidvest Fresh is part of the international Bidvest Group, which supplies the catering industry with fresh ingredients including fish and seafood, meat, produce, dairy products and ambient goods.
By Rod Addy
Source: meatinfo
Braun currently serves as EVP and president for international development, overseeing the company’s operating units for Latin America; Japan and South Korea; ASEAN and South Pacific; Greater China and Mongolia; Africa; India and Southwest Asia; and Eurasia and Middle East.
Thompson brings over 35 years of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, with a strong background in sales, marketing and general management. Before joining Nestlé, he served as CEO of Ghirardelli Chocolate Company and held leadership roles at Clorox Company and Procter & Gamble.
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