The food manufacturer says this latest purchase is part of its growth strategy of acquiring brands where it can add value and deliver further growth.
Premier Foods employs over 4,000 people operating from 13 sites across the country, supplying a range of retail, wholesale, foodservice and other customers with brands which feature in millions of homes every day.
Alex Whitehouse, chief executive at Premier Foods, said: “We’re very pleased to have agreed the acquisition of Merchant Gourmet, which meets the growing demand for premium, healthy and convenient meal options. Merchant Gourmet expands our category presence, complementing our already strong brand portfolio, and we look forward to welcoming the team to Premier Foods.”
Merchant Gourmet, founded in 1995, was created to bring restaurant-quality ingredients into everyday home cooking. It champions whole foods and real ingredients, offering products which are ready to eat in 90 seconds, or straight from the pouch.
Richard Peake, managing director at Merchant Gourmet, added: “Merchant Gourmet has always been about creating great-tasting, premium, healthy food that anyone can enjoy. Over the last few years, our team have worked incredibly hard, delivering double digit revenue growth and demonstrating huge success in entering new categories and new markets.
“Finding the best home for both Merchant Gourmet and our valued team is something we have thought carefully about, and we believe Premier Foods is the right partner to match our ambition. They understand where we’ve come from, they respect what makes our brand special, and we’re excited to continue innovating boldly and inspiring people to fall in love with simple, good food.”