EG Group, the forecourt giant run by the new owners of Asda, has acquired CS Food Group Holdings Limited, the owner of the Cooplands bakery business.
Cooplands operates three bakeries that process ingredients and manufacture fresh food distributed through its supply and logistics network to about 180 stores and cafes, predominantly across the northeast and Yorkshire regions.
Founded by Frederick and Alice Coopland in 1885, the business employs more than 1,600 staff and is the UK’s second-largest bakery chain.
EG stated that the acquisition will accelerate its diversification into foodservice and adds “highly complementary assets that will drive development opportunities in other parts of the business”.
The deal will provide a platform to diversify the Cooplands brand into the petrol forecourt and retail convenience store channel, alongside the bakery chain’s traditional store formats, through EG’s UK network.
The acquisition of Cooplands follows EG buying LEON, the healthy fast-food restaurant chain, in May 2021.
The two brands join EG’s growing foodservice offer, which includes third-party brands such as Starbucks, KFC and Subway.
EG stated that it plans to invest in the Cooplands brand and fresh food offer.
Zuber and Mohsin Issa, Founders and Co-CEOs of EG Group, said: “Cooplands has a proven track record in the fresh bakery sector and vertical integration with EG Group will help to further drive our success in foodservice, where we continue to see strong growth opportunities in the UK and globally.
“Following the acquisition of LEON in May, Cooplands is another fantastic fresh food brand to add to EG Group’s existing portfolio of third-party foodservice brands.
“The transaction will broaden the reach of Cooplands beyond the brand’s northern heartlands and bring its much-loved food to more existing and new customers through EG Group’s unparalleled network of roadside forecourts and retail convenience stores. We know that Cooplands’ impressive bakery platform and our foodservice expertise will be a winning combination.”
Belinda Youngs, CEO of Cooplands, added: “Cooplands is proud to be joining EG Group and bringing our long history of skills and expertise in the bakery industry in both manufacturing and retail to the company. We are looking forward to a great future for the Cooplands brand.”
