Food firm reveals acquisition weeks after announcing widespread redundancies

Food manufacturer The Compleat Food Group has acquired The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co for an undisclosed figure – days after announcing plans to lay off almost 200 workers in Nottingham and Crewe.

The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co is £33m Yorkshire-based supplier of own label and branded chilled Yorkshire puddings.

Compleat’s deal follows the group’s acquisition of SK Foods and Zorba Foods, the private label chilled party foods and dips and deli fillings company, and Harvey & Brockless, a producer and distributor of speciality foods, in 2024.

Backed by European private equity firm PAI Partners, The Compleat Food Group was formed in 2021 and currently employs more than 5,000 people across 15 sites. It is home to Pork Farms, Wall’s Pastry, unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Wrights and Palace Culture.

Nick Field, CEO at The Compleat Food Group, said: “We are excited to welcome the Real Yorkshire Pudding Co to The Compleat Food Group. The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co has a longstanding reputation for creating high-quality, delicious food that people love to eat, which perfectly aligns to our mission to create food to feel good.”

“This partnership is about more than just great products, it’s about bringing together talented teams, shared values, and a culture of excellence to create something truly special. We are looking forward to the future and working with the Real Yorkshire Pudding Co as we continue to grow.”

Bill Howson, managing director at the Yorkshire Pudding Co, said: “Joining The Compleat Food Group marks an exciting new chapter for The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co. We’ve built our business on quality, innovation, and a passion for great Yorkshire puddings, and Compleat is the perfect partner to help us in the next stage of our growth journey. We’re excited to work together and the group’s expertise, market reach, and shared commitment to exceptional products make them a great fit for our ambitions.”