PepsiCo announces intention to acquire Pipers Crisps

5th November 2018

Walker Morris Food & Drink Team supports premium crisp brand on conditional sale

Walker Morris’ Food & Drink Team has advised premium crisp brand Pipers Crisps on PepsiCo’s intended acquisition.

PepsiCo plans to accelerate the growth of the Pipers business in the UK and will continue to develop the export of its products.

The kettle-cooked, gourmet crisp brand will complement PepsiCo’s existing savoury snacks portfolio, with Pipers’ award-winning range of premium crisps sold in the Out of Home environment, including pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels and farm shops, both in the UK and abroad.

Ian Ellington, General Manager of PepsiCo UK said:

“Pipers share our uncompromising commitment to delivering on taste and quality and we’ve long-admired their entrepreneurial spirit. The Pipers’ brand has a strong proposition within the market, with stand-out taste, flavours and appeal.”

James McKinney, Managing Director of Pipers Crisps said:

“We’ve developed innovative products to suit evolving tastes while establishing a strong foothold in the market. PepsiCo’s commitment to accelerating the growth of the Pipers brand means more people will be able to enjoy the unique, award-winning flavour of Pipers Crisps.”

Richard Naish, Head of the Food & Drink Team at Walker Morris said:

“Pipers Crisps is a well-established, quality brand in the crisp market and an attractive proposition for PepsiCo. The acquisition will help to build on that success and continue the development and export of the product.”

The Walker Morris team advising the Pipers shareholders included: Richard Naish and Marianne McKeown (Corporate) and Nicola Parkinson (Tax).

The acquisition is subject to approval by the Competition and Markets Authority, which it is envisaged will be concluded early in 2019.

This transaction further reinforces the Walker Morris’ national reputation in the food and drink industry and is the latest in a number of successful transactions in the sector. Recent deals include advising: Karro Food Group on its acquisition of TS Bloor & Sons; Real Good Food on the sale of Haydens Bakery to Bakkavor; and the shareholders of 3V Group (owner of the Meridian nut butters brand) on the sale of a majority shareholding to SHS Group.