Watersheds grabs a slice of cheesecake acquisition as Emmi tastes English

The English Cheesecake Company, headquartered in London, was founded as a family business in 2000 and generated sales of around £23 million in the past financial year. It holds a strong market position in the premium cheesecake segment and is represented in all major retail chains in the UK.

While the cheesecake offering of the Mademoiselle Desserts Group, part of Emmi Group, is strongly positioned in the British food service market, The English Cheesecake Company’s retail business was considered an ideal extension to the distribution strategy. The acquirer felt that the authentic brand complemented the portfolio and extended the growth potential beyond UK borders.

“The bolt-on acquisition increases our presence in the fast-growing premium cheesecakes segment and contributes to the global indulgence megatrend. This represents a further step towards advancing our strong market position in the global premium desserts market and creating synergies within our portfolio,” says Didier Boudy, EVP Emmi Desserts.

The deal was led by John Stopher, Partner at corporate finance advisors Watersheds. He added: “We’re delighted to have successfully completed this acquisition. We presented a selection of opportunities to the client and worked closely with them to achieve the best deal that would meet their ambitions for expansion in the UK.

“Ultimately, this is a perfect example of how we use our expertise and contacts to identify off-market deals and bring strategic acquisitions smoothly to fruition. There is an exciting opportunity ahead for the combined teams to unlock substantial growth potential, which we look forward to watching unfold.”