Disposal of Clipper Teas to Royal Wessanen NV

DATE
March 2012

TRANSACTION TYPE
Private Equity Disposal

VALUE
£ Undisclosed

SECTOR
Food & Beverage

Spayne Lindsay advises FF&P Private Equity Limited (“FF&P”) on the sale of Clipper Teas Holdings Limited (“Clipper Teas”) to Royal Wessanen nv (“Wessanen”)

Spayne Lindsay is delighted to announce the sale of Clipper Teas (the “Company”), the Dorset-based supplier of Organic and Fairtrade teas, to Royal Wessanen nv, the listed Dutch health food company. Spayne Lindsay advised FF&P, the seller, on the sale. Founded in 1984, Clipper is an instantly recognisable brand in the UK with a product portfolio stretching across the tea, coffee and hot chocolate categories. Turnover for the year ending 31 December 2011 was approximately £16 million. Details of the consideration paid have not been disclosed.

From its factory in Beaminster, Dorset, Clipper Teas supplies customers in the UK grocery and foodservice channels, as well as health food stores and, increasingly, also exports its products internationally. The Company supplies a full range of teas including Everyday, Green, White, Specialties and Infusions. All Clipper products are completely free from any artificial ingredients and the Company’s portfolio includes an entire range of Fairtrade, Organic teas. Its instant and ground coffees are made with Organic and Fairtrade Arabica beans and its hot and drinking chocolate products are also all Organic and Fairtrade. Clipper Teas will be integrated into the existing UK businesses of Wessanen, which currently include Kallo Foods Ltd, which has natural and Organic brands including Kallo and Whole Earth.