Cheshire cheesemaker gobbled up by Irish food giant

Cheshire cheesemaker FJ Need (Foods) is being acquired by Irish food giant Ornua.

Nantwich-based FJ Need signed an agreement to become part of the Ornua business, whose brands include Kerrygold, Shannongold and Pilgrims Choice.

Founded in 1973, family-run FJ Need supplies products such as cheese, butter and yoghurt to the manufacturing, foodservice and wholesale sectors, producing 16,000 tonnes annually.

The company operates two brands, including Spinneyfields, from a cheese cutting, grating and slicing facility and distribution fleet.

Law firm Jolliffe & Co LLP advised the sellers in the multi-million pound transaction, which completed for an undisclosed sum.

Simon Williams, partner and head of corporate and commercial, who led the Jolliffes team, said: “This was a fantastic transaction for FJ Need and was extremely complex in certain areas.

“We worked around the clock for a number of weeks to ensure the transaction got over the line successfully and within very tight timescales.”

He added: We are delighted for Paul and Tracey Need and wish them every success.“

FJ Need MD Paul Need commented: “Jolliffes really helped us through the whole process to make it as easy as possible and anticipate the best options for us.

“They worked through some complex issues, especially as it was an international sale. I would like to thank the team for all their hard work, late nights and dedication to getting the best deal for us from a number of options.”

Ornua chief executive Kevin Lane said: “We are buying an excellent family dairy business which allows us to significantly strengthen our presence in the UK ingredients sector.

“The complementary nature of our customer bases and the potential to further scale the business makes this a strong fit for Ornua. We are looking forward to working to grow the business in the coming years.”

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