SOLD : Business Expansion by Acquisition Provides Added Geographic Coverage

W.T. Endacott of Okehampton was established circa 1885 and remained in the same family ownership, covering four generations, until a recent sale to allow the owners to retire.

Founded in South Zeal the business relocated to East Street, Okehampton in 1984 to a premises that offered a bakery plus shop. An additional shop was taken on in Red Lion Yard in Okehampton in the mid 1980s.

With the product range covering breads, rolls, buns, muffins, croissants, doughnuts, pastries, cakes, savouries and quiches a wholesale trade was established covering around 170 customers comprising hotels, pubs, cafes and corner shops with a fleet of nine liveried vans delivering across Devon.

Looking to retirement Michael and Ann Finucane chose to instruct specialist business transfer agency, Beardsley Theobalds to act for him. With this being a rather niche market business a targeted promotional campaign was conducted contacting owners of similar businesses to see if they were looking for expansion via acquisition. Also the business was featured on the leading websites in the business transfer market as well as Beardsley Theobalds’ own web site. These forms of promotion attracted interest from people from other parts of The U.K. but who had a background in baking and were looking to relocate to The West Country, owners of similar local business who were looking for expansion and also business investors who were looking to acquire an established business but saw opportunities for growth.

The business has been acquired by Nick Gould who is based in Somerset but also owns bakeries in Wiltshire and Hampshire. 

The vendors were represented by Simon Mole of Gard & Co. Solicitors, Plymouth.