The commercial team in the Bristol office of national law firm Freeths has advised acquisitive snack and confectionery group Zertus UK on its takeover of Sun Valley, best known for its peanuts.
Zertus, an existing client of Freeths, will add Sun Valley to its burgeoning portfolio of brands. which includes NOMO, the UK’s number one free-from chocolate brand, Baileys and Lir Chocolates, The Fruit Factory and Kinnerton Confectionery. 
Sun Valley, which is based on the Wirral, produces a wide range of peanut and nut-based snacks and had been owned by the Hacking family since it was founded in 1949.
The deal, financial details of which have not been disclosed, comes at a time of hectic merger and acquisition activity in the expanding UK snack and health food industry.
This has been driven primarily by a need for traditional snack-makers to expand their offerings into healthier product ranges to meet changing consumer tastes.
Freeths’ Bristol corporate finance team worked with the firm’s Milton Keynes office to advise Zertus on the deal.
James Cowell, who led team, said: “We’re delighted to have advised Zertus on this strategic acquisition and wish it every success in developing the business within its wider group. We’ve enjoyed working with Paul and his other advisers in delivering a successful transaction and wish the sellers well in the future”.
Zertus UK & Ireland CEO Paul Tripp described the move as a strong acquisition for Zertus and one that complemented its existing businesses in the healthier snacking sector.
“It will allow us to leverage our combined innovation and operational competencies to drive growth through exciting new products while enabling us to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations,” he added.
Sun Valley operations will continue to operate its three plants spread across two sites in Bromborough on the Wirral.
Sun Valley chairman Jim Hacking said: “We believe that in Zertus we have found the right long-term owner for the business.
“We’re confident that Zertus can make the necessary investments needed to take the business to the next level whilst preserving the heritage of the Sun Valley business we have lovingly built over the last 72 years.”
Zertus were advised by MDBAS as corporate finance and lead advisor with PWC providing financial due diligence and LEK commercial due diligence.
Sun Valley was advised by Hurst Corporate Finance and DAC Beachcroft.
Freeths offers a broad range of commercial legal services from 12 UK offices, including Bristol, which opened in April 2019.
