Planet Doughnut has been fully acquired by the Delves family after husband-and-wife founders Duncan and Samantha McGregor sold their 50% share for an undisclosed fee.
The McGregors grew the business through the early years following its establishment in 2017. The Delves, who first invested in Planet Doughnut in 2020, are said to have played a pivotal role in scaling operations since, most notably through the purchase of a new 14,000 sq ft SALSA-accredited factory in Shrewsbury and expansion into wholesale.
The brand continued to grow, reaching eight shops, a workforce of around 100, and supply deals such as to 70 Co-op stores across central England – it even declared an ambitious estate target of 50 outlets by the end of 2025.
However, difficult trading conditions saw a strategic decision made in May 2024 to close all of the brand’s retail sites, with three stores in Shrewsbury, Chester, and Telford changed to the McGregor’s newly-launched cookie brand Dipp’d.
Planet Doughnut managing director Rob Jones described the Delves’ support as vital for the company.
“The founders haven’t been involved in the day-to-day running of the business for the past 18 months,” he commented. “They decided to focus their efforts on opening a new brand that is directly competing with Planet Doughnut. This has caused some brand confusion but now that the founders have sold the business, Planet Doughnut can finally move forward with clear direction and unified leadership.”
With full ownership now in place, the Delves family said it is committed to building on the company’s strong foundations. “The acquisition brings continuity, financial backing, and the ability to move decisively into the next stage of growth, under the continued leadership of managing director Rob Jones and his team,” added director Harry Delves. All 37 employees currently working in Shrewsbury are to remain in their positions.
Planet Doughnut claims to be the UK’s largest independent manufacturer of handcrafted doughnuts, producing approximately 50,000 units per week. These are blast frozen at -36°C to preserve flavour and texture, supporting efficient inventory management and reducing waste for customers.
It maintains partnerships with stockists and wholesalers including Bidfood, Caterforce, Lomond, and Castell Howell, among others, with its products distributed across retail outlets, national pub chains, stadiums, and arenas. Last year, it supplied a trio of Taylor Swift-themed doughnuts to Wembley Stadium to sell to fans attending the popstar’s record-breaking Eras Tour concerts, and it recently launched branded kiosks and cafes in Merlin Entertainment resorts including Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, and Alton Towers.
There are also plans for Planet Doughnut to revisit retail later this year, with Jones revealing he is working on “some exciting concepts” to bring it back to the high street. “This is particularly important for our local community that have missed the brand presence in recent years,” he added.
In addition to Planet Doughnut, the Delves family are operators of the Tuffins supermarket in Craven Arms near Shrewsbury, which also features a garden centre, Subway and Greggs outlets, plus a Texaco petrol station onsite.
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