Salads To Go

Deal Summary

Catalyst advised the shareholders of Salads To Go on the sale of their business to French owned Soleco, the owner of Florette.

Based in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, Salads To Go is a Sunday Times Fast Track Growth business and the fastest growing packer of own label bagged and food service salads in the UK. It has industry leading facilities, a highly innovative product development team at the forefront of its sector and a small but growing presence in the small fruit preparation market.

Clients of Salads To Go include the major supermarkets and the food service industry.

With this acquisition, Soleco, the third biggest player in the UK salad market, moves into the own label and food service market.

What difference did we make?

Catalyst was appointed by the private shareholders of Salads To Go to advise them on preparing the business for sale with a view to maximising sale proceeds and finding the right strategic partner to support the future growth of the business.

During the initial phase of our work Catalyst researched potential buyers using our knowledge of the prepared foods market from a previous deal, the sale of Superior Foods. Catalyst then attended quarterly board meetings and reported on the latest developments at the short listed buyers.

In addition, Catalyst reviewed the areas most likely to be covered by a buyer during financial and legal due diligence and recommended a number of changes to the internal reporting systems to ensure the business would be viewed in the best possible light by a potential buyer.

In 2008 it was decided that the business was ready for sale and Catalyst marketed the business to the short listed buyers. In Soleco, we sourced a trade buyer keen to acquire the capabilities of Salads To Go. We were able to negotiate a favourable deal structure that included receiving cash at completion of a deal and also incentivised the shareholders to continue to grow the business within the new group.