William Jackson Food Group has acquired Belazu, the Middlesex-based supplier of Mediterranean ingredients.
Belazu is the UK’s top-selling balsamic vinegar and premium olive oil brand. In addition to selling into Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Ocado, the international brand operates across premium food service channels with high-quality authentic Mediterranean olives, antipasti, grains, pastes and vinegars. It employs around 160 people at its manufacturing facility in Greenford,
CEO Norman Soutar said, “The strategic sale of Aunt Bessie’s earlier in the year has enabled us to redefine the group for the next phase of its growth.
'The Group has been around for 167 years and has changed significantly during that time, and with each change our family shareholders have taken a long-term view to ensure a robust business remains in place for future generations.
'We’ve been looking to enter the fast-growing premium segment of the foodservice channel and believe this acquisition, in addition to our purchase of Wellocks earlier in June, has really exciting potential for the future.
“We’re a sixth generation family business with 2,000 colleagues in great businesses nationwide and we’re delighted to be welcoming Belazu to the family. It’s an incredibly innovative business, and we’ve had our eyes on it for a number of years.