©Everest Dairies
Vibrant Foods has acquired UK paneer manufacturer Everest Dairies in a move to expand its Asian food portfolio.
Based in Leicester, Everest Dairies supplies retailers and the foodservice sector with paneer and natural set yogurts.
The company – which employs 43 people – joins brands including TRS and East End in the Vibrant Foods portfolio.
Vibrant, a producer and distributor of South Asian foods in the UK and continental Europe, is seeking to capitalise on the demand for protein-rich, meat-free products by expanding its offering beyond its core pulses and spices business.
The deal extends Vibrant Foods’ dairy range at a time when the company says paneer is attracting “unprecedented demand” across Europe.
Everest co-founders Haroon Shaikh and Inayat Fatiwala will support the brand’s transition into the Vibrant Foods stable in the coming months, before focusing on their other business interests.
“Haroon and Inayat have built an exceptional business over the last two decades. Paneer is a staple of Asian cooking, and their product stands out for its superb quality and engaging brand,” said Rohit Samani, executive chairman of Vibrant Foods.
“Everest has an outstanding reputation across the ethnic foods sector and its range delivers strong customer loyalty. Paneer is fast attracting fans across all cultures and countries in Europe and this provides a real opportunity as we invest in their next chapter.”
Everest Dairies co-founder and managing director, Haroon Shaikh, added: “It has been a wonderful 23 years building this business. As a family, we have seen our brand reach more and more homes.”
Shaikh continued: “There’s a massive opportunity for paneer to find new fans across Europe, as cuisines and cultures fuse, and meat-free eating becomes the norm.”
Soon after its establishment last year, Vibrant Foods announced its acquisition of Cofresh Snack Foods (CSF).
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024