Abbeydale Foods adds mushy peas to its pies with acquisition

ABBEYDALE Foods, the owner of Chapel Foods, the manufacturer of Denby Dale Pies, has bought Yorkshire firm Pie Toms, which makes mushy peas under the Easi-Peasy brand.

Pie Toms, based in South Kirby, West Yorkshire, produces own label peas for a variety of retailers, has sales of £2m and employs 10 people.

It is the third acquisition made by Abbeydale Foods in the last two years.

Abbeydale was launched with backing from Warrington-based private equaity fund Energize Capital and bought the Denby Dale Pie Company out of administration in March 2011, saving 80 jobs.

A Scunthorpe-based sister firm, Country Chef, now known as Saxon Quality Foods, processes potatoes for use by manufacturers of filled potato skins.

Abbeydale Foods was founded by Andrew Hayes and Colin Wright. Mr Wright is a food industry veteran who was previously CEO and chairman of sausage maker Tranfield Foods, while Mr Hayes is a former head of the Aunt Bessie’s food business.
 
Group managing director, Mr Hayes, said: “Pie Toms is a great little business for us to acquire, as mushy peas are a great accompaniment to our pie and potato businesses. Mushy peas, or ‘Yorkshire caviar’, as it’s called in these parts, are an iconic British staple and as British as red letter boxes and Coronation Street.
 
“There are fervent lovers of mushy peas across Britain, and they’re delicious with just about anything from traditional fish and chips to pies and for dieters. Our aim is to put traditional mushy peas back on the foodie map and maximise the joint marketing and business potential of all three businesses.”
 
The deal was completed with the aid of Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise and Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking.
 
Abbeydale Foods is a group of food business supplying the multiples, food service, B2B with traditional prepared foods.
 
“Our products are about quality, traditional foods, made by locals and using British and Yorkshire produce when possible and supporting the farming community. Pie Toms fits our ethos and our aims perfectly and we’re looking forward to growing the business and increasing our workforce in future,” added Mr Hayes.