UK dried fruits, nuts and seeds supplier Whitworths has reportedly been put up for sale by private-equity owner European Capital.
The healthy snacking and baking firm is understood to have a GBP100m (US$151.2m) price tag, according to The Sunday Times. European Capital bought the firm in 2006 from Gresham Partners for GBP85m.
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European Capital has tasked food and drink investment advisers, Stamford Partners, to locate possible buyers for the Northamptonshire-based firm.
Whitworths, a supplier of branded and private-label dried fruit and nut-based products used for healthy snacking, as well as home cooking and baking, employs around 350 staff.
At the time of its acquisition in 2006, European Capital said Whitworths’ leading position afforded it “tremendous growth opportunities” in a market driven by a shift toward healthier food products.
Sales for the year ended 30 April reached GBP145m, up from GBP119m a year earlier, The Sunday Times noted. Pre-tax profits, however, were down 24.3% to GBP5.6m.
