Beechdean Group has purchased the remaining shares of Lovingtons Ice Cream, having joined forces with Lovingtons initially in May by acquiring 50% of the business.
The aim is to rapidly expand the Lovington Brand in the West Country by building on the company’s excellent reputation for manufacturing the finest quality dairy ice cream. Lovingtons, started in 1997, has become one of the most recognised names in the West Country with a range of creamy, dairy ice creams and memorable flavour combinations.
Lovingtons supplies Foodservice and Scooping sites in 4L and 5L and has a reputation as a luxury West Country brand across the country. Beechdean aims to continue this journey, strengthening the brands British credentials by using the finest ingredients Britain has to offer.
This move gives Beechdean a West Country stronghold as the Lovington’s Somerset Factory joins the other three AA BRC production sites – opening up a new authentic West Country production option for the ice cream industry.
The acquisition signals the continued rapid expansion of Beechdean. Beechdean now has a capacity of 30 million Litres a year with three AA BRC ice cream factories in the Chilterns, Cheshire, and Somerset. Beechdean also moved into the broader desserts arena with the acquisition of Enjays Pancakes in 2017 – a AA BRC site that produces a wide range of foodservice products.
Beechdean is the manufacturer of Beechdean, Loseley and other key ice cream brands such as Yorkshire Dales and Granellis. It is the market leader in Foodservice and also has a strong presence with the Out Of Home Channel as exclusive supplier to The Royal Albert Hall and Ambassador Theatre Group.
Retail is a key focus with a Beechdean Farmhouse rebrand, and new ranges such as Decadent and Paul Hollywood launching in 2017. The addition of a top end West Country brand complements and bolsters the portfolio and opens up opportunities in all Channels.
Andrew Howard, Managing Director of the Beechdean Group, said, “We have been working closely with Lovingtons and felt it was the right next step for Beechdean’s growth, both in brands and production capacities. We are a customer centric business and this means as a group we have much more to offer our growing client base.
'We are putting substantial investment in both the manufacturing capabilities as well as the sales and marketing side of the business to capitalise on the excellent reputation the business has developed.
'The plan is to strengthen the hold of Lovington’s in the Foodservice and Leisure markets and also offer the brand to other markets; Offering this Somerset gem out to the West Country and beyond and complementing the Beechdean offering for every occasion.”