Member Article

R&R Ice Cream buys Lancashire rival

Lancashire-based ice cream business Fredericks Dairies has been bought by Yorkshire manufacturer R&R Ice Cream for £49m.

Fredericks Dairies, which has a factory at Skelmersdale, manufactures big-name ice cream and refreshment brands such as Cadbury, Del Monte, Vimto, Britvic and Barratts.

As the sole ice cream suppliers to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London last year, Fredericks achieved sales of £45m over the 12 months to the end of August 2012.

The deal with R&R Ice Cream will be dependant on approval from the Office of Fair Trading, when the buyer will take on the entirety of Fredericks’ share capital.

James Lambert, chief executive and executive chairman of R&R commented: “I am very excited about acquiring this successful business whose popular licensed products will prove valuable additions to our branded portfolio.

“It will also enable R&R to extend its successful partnership with Mondelez International into the UK. Fredericks is already launching a cone and 500ml super premium tub under the Oreo brand and this acquisition will allow us to accelerate this successful innovation programme alongside our popular Nestle, Cadbury, Kelly’s and yoo moo brands.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .