Disposal of Plum Baby to Darwin Private Equity

DATE
May 2010

TRANSACTION TYPE
Private Equity Disposal

VALUE
£10 Million

SECTOR
Food & Beverage

Spayne Lindsay & Co. LLP advises Plum Baby Limited (“Plum”) on its sale to Darwin Private Equity (“Darwin”).

Plum Baby, the UK baby food business has been sold to Darwin Private Equity for a cash consideration of £10m.

Plum is a leading premium organic baby food company which has revolutionised the baby food market. Launched in 2006 by Susie Willis, former chef and mum of three, Plum has pioneered the premium baby food sector in the UK and has witnessed dramatic year on year growth – it is on track to achieve retail turnover of £15 million in 2010. Its award winning range of over 50 products, created with the ethos of ‘real food for babies, not just baby food’, is distributed in all major supermarkets and includes baby food puree pots, purees in pouches, baby cereals, fromage frais, baby biscuits and snacks.

This is the third transaction for Darwin’s new investment fund. Darwin intends to invest in building and internationalising the Plum brand. Darwin is an independent private equity firm focused on the UK mid-market. Darwin was established by an experienced team of partners, from CVC and Permira, with an excellent track record, having worked on well-known deals in the industry, including Formula One, Homebase, Inmarsat, Kwik-Fit and Travelodge. Darwin are active in the consumer space having acquired Maximuscle in 2007.

Spayne Lindsay is delighted to have advised Plum on this transaction.