Apetito buys frozen meals business WFF Crieff

One of Wiltshire Farm Foods' largest franchise partners has been acquired by the firm's parent group Apetito, for an undisclosed sum.

Trowbridge-based Apetito, a major supplier of meals to care homes, hospitals and local authorities, has bought family firm WFF Crieff Ltd, one of the first UK franchisees for Wiltshire Farm Foods.

WFF Crieff was launched in Crieff, north of Edinburgh, in 1992 by the Lamont family. It delivers more than one million meals a year in an area north and south of Edinburgh.

A spokesman for Apetito said: "We are delighted to have acquired WFF Crieff and wish the Lamont family a long and enjoyable retirement."

Former owner and MD Douglas Lamont said: ""Wiltshire Farm Foods is the clear market leader in its sector and we have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of its growth story and success over the last 23 years here in Crieff."

Smith Cooper which advised on the deal said: "We are delighted to have secured an exit for the Lamonts who have built one of the largest WFF businesses in the UK; it is very satisfying to have worked with the family to crystallise all the hard work and care they have poured into the business over the last 23 years."

Apetito, which operates its UK franchise business through WFF, is a subsidiary of Apetito group which has operations in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Canada as well as in the UK.

The group has a turnover of over €800m (£615m) and employs more than 8,000 staff. WFF is a major frozen meals delivery service, operating a franchise model with over 70 franchisees in the UK.

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