News

Fish restaurants chain Loch Fyne has agreed to a management buyout led by chief executive Mark Derry. The deal, which values the concern at £21.8 million, has been backed by Hutton Collins Mezzanine Partners.

News

Matrix Private Equity has completed its seventh management buyout in just 12 months, investing £2.1 million in Maynard Scotts – the UK’s ‘largest manufacturer of chocolate fudge cake for the food service industry.’

News

AIM-quoted restaurateur Hartford, which runs Jamies bars, has bought American-style chain Henry J Beans for £5.8 million from a consortium of investors including the Guinness Flight, Elderstreet and Chrysalis VCTs.

Entrepreneurs

In the late 1990s, Adam Balon, Jon Wright and Richard Reed came up with the idea of a device to automatically fill your bath, but, on account of the dangerous mix of water and electricity involved, they changed tack and started selling fruit smoothies instead.

Entrepreneurs

Wade Lyn founded Jamaican pattie producer Cleone Foods in 1987, intent on bringing Caribbean cuisine to the mainstream market. The business, which employs 44 people, is now looking to expand into other product areas.

Entrepreneurs

To safeguard his father’s 15-strong off-licence chain, James Rackham took the rather courageous step of closing every store bar one. Fortunately business has since thrived.