Bart Ingredients, the Bristol-based manufacturer of herbs and spices, has been acquired by German spice producer Fuchs Group for an undisclosed sum.
Under its previous owner, private equity firm Langholm Capital, Bart had been transformed, becoming an award-winning grocery brand. 
It turned over more than £25m last year and employs more than 180 people.
Fuchs, the world’s largest privately-owned spices group, said the acquisition of Bart would further grow its international footprint and enhance its position in the UK – the third largest market for herbs and spices in Europe.
Bart was founded in 1963 by Reg and Jo Bartlam. It was acquired by Langholm in 2010 and in recent years has diversified into organic and Fairtrade products. In 2014 it to expand into the pastes and sauces market after acquiring the assets of Berkshire-based OTP Foods in a multi-million pound deal.
Bart CEO David Collard is to remain with the business. He said: “We are delighted to be joining the Fuchs family. We have admired their leadership in our industry and believe that our strategies are totally aligned.”
Fuchs group CEO Nils Meyer-Pries said: “The acquisition of Bart Ingredients complements our existing portfolio of businesses and secures more market coverage in line with our growth strategy.
“In our discussions with Bart Ingredients it is clear that the philosophies and people of both companies are well matched.
Fuchs was founded in 1952 in Lower Saxony, where it still has its head office. It sells more than 7,000 product lines and has operations in France, Brazil, China, and North America. It is quoted on the Frankfurt stock market and employs 2,800 people.
