Eight Fifty Food Group buys Carroll’s Cuisine

Eight Fifty Food Group has announced the acquisition of meat company Carroll’s Cuisine from Carlyle Cardinal Ireland.

UK-headquartered Eight Fifty – the holding company for Karro Food Group and Young’s Seafood – is owned by private equity firm CapVest Partners.

Based in Ireland, Carroll’s is a producer of cooked meats and convenience food. The company, which employs around 300 people at its site in Tullamore, Offaly, will be integrated into Eight Fifty’s pork division.

The deal will further expand Eight Fifty’s presence in Ireland following its acquisition of pork processor M&M Walshe last year.

Following the transaction, Eight Fifty will reportedly employ around 8,300 people across 23 manufacturing sites in the UK, Ireland, Germany and France.

The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

“Eight Fifty are guardians of strong brands across multiple proteins and so we are delighted to add the Carroll’s business to our growing group,” said Di Walker, CEO of Eight Fifty Food Group.

“Like our Young’s brand in seafood, the Carroll’s name is synonymous with quality, value-added protein products. Carroll’s will be a great addition to our business.”

Jason Rodrigues, partner, CapVest, added: “Carroll’s is another great European addition to our growing portfolio and creates the premier integrated platform of value-added pork products in Ireland. We look forward to leveraging the Eight Fifty platform to further develop the business going forward.”

The transaction is subject to standard closing conditions and approval from the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

In 2019, Karro Food Group reached an agreement to acquire Young’s in a move by its owner CapVest to establish a multi-protein food group.