Court-Johnson cooks up growth plan for Pooles

WIGAN’s historic pie and pasty manufacturer Pooles has been sold by veteran businessman Dave Whelan to the former boss of Hollands Pies, Neil Court-Johnson.

Founded in 1847, Pemberton-based Pooles has been owned by the Wigan Athletic owner and ex JJB Sports tycoon for the last 25 years and he has invested more than £12m in its state-of-the art 250,000sq ft factory.

Mr Whelan has funded the deal to the tune of £5m – with a £3m loan over five years and £2m for working capital – with the proviso that the business grows employment in the town.

Pooles currently employs 50 people and supplies Morrisons and Asda with savoury and sweet pies, pasties and sausage rolls.

Seneca, the new corporate finance and investment business set up by Ian Currie advised the new management team. Tim Murphy and Dan Fallows led on the deal.

Mr Court-Johnson said: “I am thrilled and really excited, I am delighted to be back in business on my home patch and I have aggressive plans to build Pooles into a major business and to grow it.

“Dave Whelan has done an amazing deal for us and sees it as a legacy thing for the town. We’re already hiring – I have seven people joining right away from Hollands.”

Talking of Hollands – the Lancashire-based pie maker he used to run before a fall-out with his then superiors at Northern Foods saw him leave the business – Mr Court-Johnson said: “If the new owner Ranjit Boparan wants to sell, I’d like to be first in the queue.

“We have no bank or private equity debt in our business and I do want to acquire other brands and businesses.”

Originally from Stockport, Mr Court-Johnson’s family base is in Harrogate, Yorkshire, but he plans to live in Wigan during the week.

He has immediately secured a maiden order – a £2m deal to supply Iceland with frozen apple and rhubarb pies.