Bright Blue Foods

Management / Secondary Buyout

BBF is the largest own label cake manufacturer in the UK with turnover of over £160 million. It trades from four sites in the UK and one in Poland and employs over 2,000 people. The business delivers ‘best in class’ operational performance across a broad range of production capabilities including mince pies, fruit tarts, swiss rolls, celebration cakes and chilled desserts.

The initial investment in BBF by Endless happened in September 2015 and we were delighted to be joined by new CEO, Jonathan Lill, a few months later. The initial investment plan included a significant capital investment in the manufacturing sites in both the UK and Poland, best-in-class operational enhancements and a focus on new product development.  Following the delivery of the initial plan, our attention turned to bolt-on opportunities.

In February 2018, the business acquired the cakes and desserts facility of Greencore PLC which trades from a single, purpose-built manufacturing facility in Hull. The acquisition doubled the size of the business and provided additional production capacity as it develops new products and enters new markets.  

“After the operational challenges faced by the business in previous years, we’re proud to have built the market-leading own label cake manufacturer in the UK. We’re investing significantly in both our operational capability and new product innovation as the business continues to deliver profitable top-line growth.”

Jonathan Lill – CEO, BBF