Raeburn leads Pets Choice buyout

THE chief executive of Blackburn pet food manufacturer, Pets Choice, has teamed up with a supplier to acquire the business.

Tony Raeburn, who already held 32% of the shares, has led the buyout with Hans Jurgen Deuerer, founder of German pet food manufacturer Tiernahrung Deuerer.

The two men now have an equal share in the business. The value of the deal was not disclosed.

The deal gives an exit to a number of shareholders including Joseph Davies and Anthony Oppenheimer who held 22% and 17% respectively.

The new owners plan to invest in the business and take a larger market share. They say it will not affect jobs at the company which produces pet food under the Webbox, Davies and Pets Choice brands. The company employs 145 people and has sales of around £26m.

Mr Raeburn said: “Pets Choice has shown significant growth over the past five years and the Webbox brand is now one of the fastest growing brands in the UK dog and cat market.

“This buyout will allow us to further build on this growth and success by drawing on the vast experience of both myself and Hans Jurgen Deuerer in the pet food market.

“I am excited about entering into partnership with Hans Jurgen, who is passionate about the pet food industry. We are now seeking to invest substantially within the business to sustain the rapid growth of the Webbox brand both in the UK and overseas.”
                                                   
Law firm Osborne Clarke and accountancy firm Taylor Viney & Marlow advised on the deal.