Vital Ingredient, one of the fastest growing healthy fast food chain in the capital, has been sold today.
Private equity firm LDC has backed the company’s management buyout as part of a £12 million funding package to support national expansion. The deal has seen real estate entrepreneur, Paul Oberschneider, sell the 50 per cent stake he acquired in the business in 2011.
As part of the deal, LDC is investing over £8 million into the Alex Heynes-founded business to support the rollout of the brand both within London and throughout the UK. Santander is providing a further £4 million in funding to support the expansion.
The Paolo Peretti-led group plans to use the new investment to more than double the number of its sites to at least 35 over next three years, including exploring opportunities outside the capital.
Graham Turner, former chief executive of Tragus and current non-executive chairman of Liberation Group and Barburrito, joins Vital as non-executive chairman.
Paul Oberschneider, who built one of the largest real estate development companies in Central and Eastern Europe from 1992 to 2008 is setting up a fund to invest in small and medium-sized businesses bringing along a host of experienced mentors in addition to capital.
