Fruit and nut brand Whitworths sold to Turkey’s Anatolia

UK fruit, nut and seed snack brand Whitworths has been sold to Turkish wholesale group Anatolia for an undisclosed sum.

The merger provides a platform for long-term growth, combining the capability of Whitworths as a leading UK dried fruit, nut and seed supplier with the strength of Anatolia in sourcing and packing Turkish-grown products.

The merger gives the combined business a unique position in the market to deliver supply chain integrity from producer to consumer in key areas of dried fruit.

Whitworths is a supplier of branded and own-label fruit, nut and seeds products, and a major supplier of beans, pulses, and cereals. It has an annual turnover of around £150 million. The business has a portfolio of well-established brands, including Whitworths, and operates from a facility in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire.

Anatolia has operated in the food industry since 1965 and is a dynamically growing company in international dried fruit markets, serving more than 15 countries, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand and markets in mainland Europe. Operating from a facility in Izmir, Turkey, Anatolia has reputable business relationships with a number of major UK retailers, supplying both branded and own-label products.

Houlihan Lokey advised on the acquisition.