Birketts advises on sale of Paddy & Scott’s Cafes to management team

12 Feb, 2024
Tony Quested
Birketts has advised Scott Russell, the founder and sole owner of Paddy & Scott’s, on the sale of the Ipswich company via a management buy-out to its current executive team, Jon Reed and Zoe Hill.
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From left to right: Scott Russell, Zoe Hill and Jon Reed. Image courtesy Scott Russell.

Paddy & Scott’s, a producer of coffee products in the hospitality sector, is renowned for putting its farmers and the planet at the forefront of its goals.

Founded in 2007, the company has grown into a renowned national coffee brand employing 35 people. Perhaps most impressively, in 2017 following a visit to Kenya it invested in the Muchomba Farm and Rugia School project in order to foster a direct relationship with the coffee farmers.

Paddy & Scott’s will continue to remain firmly rooted to its foundations, boasting a proud Suffolk base.

The Birketts team was led by Ed Savory (Partner, Corporate) and Sam Varney (Solicitor, Corporate), with support from Karl Pocock (Partner, Corporate Tax).

Scott Russell said: “Both Ed and Sam were consummate professionals during the whole process. An MBO can be a tricky one, more so than a trade sale; emotions can run high. It’s a personal transaction that needs a legal team who are both empathetic and understanding of both sides needs. Ed, Sam and the whole Birketts team played their roles beautifully.”

Ed Savory, Partner and Head of the Food & Beverage Sector at Birketts added: “Working with Scott on his exit has been a privilege – an entrepreneur with such wonderful combination of energy, passion and humour.

“I have tracked Paddy & Scott’s for several years and knowing that it will continue under private ownership with Jon and Zoe at the helm feels like the perfect exit.

“This transaction is another example of the quality of businesses in the F&B sector based in East Anglia which grow and flourish to become exciting, profitable brands.”