William Jackson Food Group (WJFG), a prominent UK food producer, has successfully acquired the family-operated baking business Lottie Shaw’s, based in West Yorkshire. The financial specifics of the acquisition have not been revealed.
Lottie Shaw’s is set to become “an extension” of its Jacksons sliced bread brand, yet it will continue to operate “as a standalone business,” according to Owen Elliott, the Managing Director of Jacksons. He elaborated on the acquisition, stating: “The new partnership will help us broaden Jacksons’ reach beyond sliced bread and provide Lottie Shaw’s with additional expertise and scale to help secure long-term future growth.”
Established in 2008, Lottie Shaw’s is renowned for its diverse array of baked products, which includes biscuits, Yorkshire Parkin, a variety of chocolates and confectionery, gingerbread, cakes, tarts, and a vegan baked goods range. Additionally, the business offers a selection of drinks such as Holmfirth tea, Bottegga prosecco, Marsonne Viognier red and white wine, and its own branded hot chocolate.
Lottie Shaw’s markets its products through its website and major e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Ocado, as well as online UK retailers including Roberts & Speight and Not On The High Street.
Co-founder Charlotte Shaw commented on the acquisition: “We knew the business needed a bigger engine behind it to help it develop further, and it’s while we were considering this, that we were approached by Jacksons. We wouldn’t have sold our business to just anyone, we needed to find a home with a family which will care about our team and the products we make just as much as we do, and Jacksons felt like the perfect fit. Their values are very similar to our own and they have a culture of looking after people well.”
Both founders, Charlotte and Ian Shaw, alongside the bakery’s 30 employees, will continue their roles at the company’s headquarters in Brighouse, West Yorkshire.
The acquisition of Lottie Shaw’s follows WJFG’s recent expansion moves, including the purchase of Miso Tasty by its Mediterranean condiments brand Belazu in June 2023, which was itself acquired by WJFG in 2018. The latest financial results for the year ending 29 April 2023, showed that the owner of the Abel & Cole food-delivery group experienced a 41.4% decline in annual turnover, reporting £6.2m ($7.7m), with operating profits up 81.9% at £1,610.