Cottage Delight bought by Vestey Holdings, RSM provides advisory

Family owned fine food producer Cottage Delight was recently sold to Vestey Holdings, a fourth generation family foods business. RSM provided Corporate Financial advisory to the vendors for the deal.

Cottage Delight started life as home made goods sold at farmers’ markets, before, blossoming organically into a medium sized family business selling more than 700 speciality foods, either made by its founders or sourced from artisan producers across the UK and Europe. The company has, in the intervening years, stayed true to its authentic beginnings, focusing on the independent retail trade.

Nigel Cope, the founder of Cottage Delight, says, “Cottage Delight has grown beyond my wildest dreams since I started out over 40 years ago. We have worked together as a team to develop a strong business with an unwavering focus on the quality of our products and our customer service."

Cope recently revealed that he has sold his business to Vestey Holdings, a fourth generation family-owned food and farming business. The UK headquartered holding company operates in 70 countries with six subsidiaries, delivering a range of products in the meat, fish, seafood, dairy, fruit, vegetables, specialist meal, and convenience categories.

Commenting on the sale to Vestey, Cope remarks, "I have always been proud of our position as a family business and Vestey – still family owned and controlled after four generations – shares our belief in the importance of a family ethos and quality customer service.”

Corporate Finance advisory for the transaction – terms of the deal have not been disclosed – was provided by RSM. The firm’s Corporate Finance advisors Ian Latham, Helen Brocklebank and David Baggott supported the vendors with financial advisory, while Knights Professional Services acted as legal advisors to the shareholders.

Ian Latham, a partner in RSM's Corporate Finance arm, says, “It was vital to Nigel to find the right home for the business that preserved Cottage Delight’s passion for quality and cultural integrity. I am delighted that we have been able to help Cottage Delight to secure the right partner in the form of Vestey to support the business in its continued success.”