UK sausage manufacturer Delenco Foods has been acquired by Red Sky Food Group, an investor-backed venture established this year to focus on protein companies.
This acquisition of London-based Delenco Foods, completed for an undisclosed sum, represents the second acquisition by Red Sky Food Group since its launch in April. In that same month, the joint venture also acquired the Welsh meat producer Langford’s.
Red Sky Food Group’s mission is to “acquire and scale high-quality, protein-focused meat manufacturing businesses.” The joint venture was formed by the investment fund Literacy Capital and former Meadow Foods CEO, Mark Chantler, who now serves as the executive chairman.
The investment in Langford’s involved a 50:50 split between the two, although the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed.
Founded in 1963, Delenco Foods supplies a variety of customers including retailers, foodservice providers, cruise lines, schools, and butchers with both fresh and frozen sausages.
With the acquisition, the combined revenues of Delenco and Langford’s are projected to be around £35m ($45.7m), according to a statement from Red Sky Food Group. Together, they employ 120 workers across manufacturing sites in Welshpool, Wales, and Leyton, London.
Red Sky Food Group emphasized that the acquisition was “highly complementary” to Langford’s in terms of product range and geographic reach.
Both Langford’s and Delenco will continue to operate under their existing brand names. Furthermore, Delenco’s founders will stay involved to aid in the transition, with Josh Gethin taking leadership of both companies.
Chantler stated: “Richard and Jane Barber have spent their careers building an outstanding business, and we are committed to continuing Delenco’s success, while adding other high-quality meat manufacturing businesses to Red Sky.”