Burton’s Biscuit Company has been acquired by CTH, a Belgian holding company related to the Ferrero Group.
As part of the deal to buy the company from Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, Ferrero will take over Burton’s six production facilities in the UK, located in Blackpool, Dorset, Edinburgh, Livingston, Llantarnam and the Isle of Arran.
Headquartered in St Albans, Burton’s has a history in the British biscuit market dating back to 1935. The company currently employs approximately 2,000 people across the six plants and generated sales in excess of £275m during the last 12 months.
Brands under the Burton’s umbrella include Maryland Cookies, Jammie Dodgers, Wagon Wheels, Paterson’s and Thomas Fudge’s.
The acquisition represents the latest step in an ongoing move by Ferrero to enlarge its offering in the sweet biscuits market. In October 2020 the Italian confectionery group bought part of Fox’s Biscuits from 2 Sisters Food Group for £246m. The deal included the purchase of manufacturing sites at Batley and Kirkham. Other recent acquisitions by Ferrero in the sector include Biscuits Delacre and Kelsen Group.
Ontario Teachers’ bought Burton’s in 2013 and have since grown the business through investment across the branded, retailer brand and third-party global brand portfolios, in addition to organic initiatives and bolt-on acquisitions.
In March 2021, Burton’s announced the creation of more than 40 new jobs at its flagship bakery in Llantarnam, citing ‘record levels’ of demand for its biscuit brands.
It also recently boosted the workforce at its Stalbridge bakery in Dorset, which produces the Thomas Fudge’s range, by almost 10% taking the total number of employees at the site to 153.
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