Frozen meal delivery franchise snapped up

WFF (York), an operator of the UK’s leading frozen meal home delivery business Wiltshire Farm Foods, has been sold to York Group.

The sale marks the retirement of the sellers who set up the business as a Wiltshire Farm Foods franchise more than 20 years ago and have grown the business, becoming one of the leading meal delivery providers operating in the York and Hull area.

Former co-owner, Barry Bradfield, said: “Having been a part of Wiltshire Farm Foods continued success over the last few years, it was imperative that we found an investor who shared our vision to invest in WFF (York) and wanted to nurture it further from the strong base which we’ve established.”

York Group, owned by Amarjit Rai and Lacky Sohal, has acquired the entire issued share capital of WFF (York). The duo have successful backgrounds in Royal Mail, the health service and in franchise brands such as Costa and Pizza Hut Delivery.

David Crump and John Farnsworth of Smith Cooper’s corporate finance division advised on the deal.

Farnsworth said: “We are delighted to have secured an exit for the Bradfield’s who have operated WFF (York) successfully for over 20 years. I believe this success will be continued by their successors.”

Legal advice was provided by Martyn Brierley and Will Bowler from Derby based law firm, Flint Bishop.

Wiltshire Farm Foods is a leading frozen meals home delivery service. It operates a franchise model comprising more than 70 local delivery businesses throughout the UK.

The holding company of the Wiltshire Farm Foods brand is apetito, a global business which manufactures and supplies nutritionally balanced meals to care homes, local authorities and hospitals and, through WFF, to individual households.

Lee Sheppard, director of operations and performance at Wiltshire Farm Foods, said: “We are delighted to welcome Amarjit and Lacky to our team and wish Barry a long and enjoyable retirement.”