Kettle Foods has taken full control of popcorn maker Metcalfe’s Skinny by acquiring the remaining 74% of the business.
Kettle Foods had initially acquired a 26% stake in the business in January this year, but has now increased that holding to take full control.
The addition of Metcalfe’s Skinny popcorn to Kettle Foods’ portfolio reflects its ambition to evolve into a more widely based premium snacking leader and further extends the company’s better-for-you strategy. It follows growth of more than 45% in the UK’s popcorn market over the last two years.
As well as popcorn, the Metcalfe’s Skinny brand is behind popular lines of corn and rice cake products.
Ashley Hicks, managing director of Kettle Foods, said: “We are delighted to acquire Metcalfe’s Skinny popcorn, which is an incredibly innovative premium brand and which has built such a strong foundation in the UK market. We now have the opportunity to extend the brand’s success story with further innovation and brand development, and as a result drive even stronger growth in this exciting category.”
In a joint statement, previous Metcalfe’s Skinny co-owners Julian Metcalfe and Robert Jakobi said: “We are very excited about the opportunity for the Metcalfe’s Skinny popcorn brand to expand with the support and expertise of the Kettle Foods organisation. This is a unique opportunity to bring the best brains in snacking together under one roof to truly give Metcalfe’s Skinny the international opportunity it deserves. This is a positive step on many levels that we know will not only showcase the brand’s potential but will benefit our customers in the long term too.”
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