Karro Cookstown in deal with CapVest

Leading UK pork processor Karro Foods, which has a substantial operation at Cookstown in county Tyrone, Northern Ireland, is being acquired by London-based private equity firm CapVest Partners.

CapVest, which has a number of existing investments in Ireland, has purchased Karro, which is based in Yorkshire and employs over 800 workers at its pork processing facility in Northern Ireland, best known for its successful range of Cookstown branded pork products especially its sausages, among the best known food brands in Northern Ireland.

The deal is subject to normal closing conditions and approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (the "CCPC") in Ireland. The deal will see Karro's management team, including executive chair Di Walker, remain in the business.

"Karro is a great fit with CapVest's overall investment strategy," said Jason Rodriques, managing director of CapVest. "The group has established a leading position in the processing and sale of British pork for which we believe the long-term fundamentals are very strong.

"We are delighted to back a very experienced and capable management team and we look forward to working closely with them in pursuing exciting new organic and acquisition-led growth opportunities."

Karro, which employs about 3,100 people and is based at Maldon in Yorkshire, has been acquired by CapVest from London private equity firm Endless.

Cookstown is the largest pig processing plant in the UK and Ireland, with 1.2 million pigs processed at the Karro factory each year.

The operation sees 3,296 pigs slaughtered on site every day for domestic markets and others throughout Europe, Asia, the US and Africa.

Operating to high standards, the company holds British Retail Consortium, Bord Bia and BQAP accreditation as well as a United States Department of Agriculture licence.

In addition to slaughter facilities, the Cookstown site is also equipped for boning, bacon curing and slicing, sausage manufacture and pre-packed fresh pork production.

From Cookstown, the company's customer base includes supermarkets Tesco, Asda, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury and Dunnes as well as smaller groups within Northern Ireland. It also sells products under the Cookstown brand label to customers across the island of Ireland. The Cookstown factory, which was first established in 1937, was taken over by Karro Food Group in 2013 from Vion.