Assisi Pet Care has expanded again through M&A, with the UK pet-food business acquiring Burns Pet Nutrition.
Burns Pet Nutrition, located in Kidwelly in Wales, marks the first purchase by Assisi since the company was bought in October by US-based private-equity firm Wind Point Partners.
Set up in 1993 by vet John Burns, Burns Pet Nutrition specialises in foods for pets with allergies and intolerances. The company supplies dry cat food, along with dry and wet foods for dogs and dog treats under its own brand name.
Mr Burns also runs a charity. The John Burns Foundation was established in 2006 and caters to community programmes for people and pets.
Assisi did not disclose the financial terms for the Burns Pet Nutrition transaction, nor did it reveal the details around the Wind Point Partners deal in October.
“After 30 years of owning and growing Burns Pet Nutrition, I feel that it is time for me to retire and hand over the reins,” Mr Burns said in a LinkedIn post. “I am delighted that Assisi Pet Care is a good fit for Burns and they will grow the Burns brand in a responsible, ethical way.”
Assisi was founded in 2020 by Peter Mangion and is based in Melton Mowbray, located in the East Midlands county of Nottinghamshire. The company provides branded and private-label pet foods to UK retailers, including the Hollings and Pet Munchies lines. The business also sells online and serves specialist UK pet stores.
Other recent deals struck by Assisi include UK-based pet-treats manufacturer Pet Munchies and dog-snacks maker Maced in Poland, which were both acquired last year. The company also bought Hollings in 2020, a UK supplier of natural dog treats, and a year later purchased another UK business, Town and Country Petfoods, which makes cat and dog foods and snacks under the Hi-Life brand.
“We are delighted to be adding the highly regarded Burns brand to the Assisi portfolio of brands but are equally pleased to be welcoming the fantastic Burns Pet Nutrition team to our organisation,” Mangion said in a statement.
“The Burns brand is a perfect fit for Assisi in that animal health and well-being are central to the brand’s proposition. We look forward to working with our new colleagues as we integrate the Burns brand into the Assisi portfolio and strengthen our offer to our customers across Europe.”
Assisi’s latest accounts filing with Companies House is for the 15 months to 31 March 2022. Sales were £29.7m ($37.3m), compared to £23.2m in the year ended 31 December 2020. The business delivered a net profit of £1.3m versus £897,422 in the corresponding period.
