Woods Foodservice’s acquisition of Michelin-star supplier John Mower & Co

Bringing two premium hospitality suppliers together

Woods Foodservice identified an opportunity to acquire John Mower & Co – a respected supplier with more than 80 years’ experience supplying restaurants, hotels, bars and delis.

The acquisition brings the two businesses together to create one of the UK’s largest restaurant suppliers, serving more than 3,000 customers who collectively share more than 90 Michelin stars.

How our corporate experts supported Woods Foodservice’s acquisition

Led by Corporate Partner Harriet Jones, a team of specialists pooled their cross-disciplinary expertise to support the transaction – including Jian Chu in Corporate, and Matthew Szavay in Employment, and Property Partner Jeff Elphee in Real Estate.

A stronger premium hospitality supplier with a platform for growth

Bringing together two complementary businesses with strong reputations across the premium hospitality sector, the deal positions both businesses to provide the finest produce, exceptional service and high levels of sustainability to customers across the UK.

Reflections from Woods Foodservice:

Commenting on the acquisition, Darren Labbett, Managing Director at Woods Foodservice, said:

“John Mower is an industry icon, and its core values align strongly with Woods Foodservice. We’re a careful business, and this acquisition is a thoughtful step to deliver measured growth, whilst remaining profitable and continuing to deliver excellence.

“The opportunity for growth over the next five years is huge, and this deal will put Woods Foodservice and John Mower at the heart of fine dining across London and other major cities. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Harriet and the team at Knights for all their hard work with getting this deal over the line. Their professional approach, quality of service and due diligence throughout the process provided us with a seamless experience.”

Reflections from Knights:

Reflecting in the transaction, Corporate Partner Harriet Jones shared:

“We are delighted to have worked with the directors at Woods Foodservice on this exciting acquisition. Both businesses complement each other brilliantly and this new chapter will no doubt provide a platform for additional growth.

“I’d like to wish everyone involved good luck in this new venture, and am looking forward to seeing the business go from strength to strength in the future.”

Key results, in review:

• Created one of the UK’s largest restaurant suppliers.
• Combined more than 40 years of Woods Foodservice experience with more than 80 years of John Mower & Co experience.
• Positioned the businesses for growth across London and other major cities.