Burton’s Biscuits, the manufacturer of Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels, is set to be snapped up by Italian chocolate giant Ferrero.
Ferrero, which makes Nutella and Kinder Surprise, is said to be purchasing Burton’s for an undisclosed sum after entering “a definitive agreement” with its Canadian owners.
As part of the deal, the Italian confectionery firm will take control of Burton's six factories in Blackpool, Dorset, Edinburgh, Livingston, Llantarnam and the Isle of Arran.
Burton's, which also makes Maryland Cookies and was established in 1935, employs about 2,000 people in the UK across all these sites.
The biscuit maker was purchased by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board in 2013 and has reported sales of £275million over the past 12 months.
Other brands it makes in the UK include Paterson’s and Thomas Fudge’s.
Nick Field, chief executive officer at Burton's, said: “We are delighted to be joining the Ferrero-related company.
“We look forward to bringing together the businesses' complementary brand portfolios, high-quality capabilities, management talents and highly skilled workforces, which offer a compelling strategic rationale and an exciting future for Burton's.”
The acquisition of Burton’s Biscuits would be the latest confectionery deal clinched by Ferrero in recent years.
It purchased Thorntons chocolates for £112million in June 2014, followed by Fox’s Biscuits from 2 Sisters Food Group for £246million in October 2020.
Ferrero also added Essex cereal bar maker Eat Natural to its portfolio in December 2020.
And in the US, it acquired the confectionery arm of Nestle - including brands such as Crunch, Nerds and Butterfinger - in a deal worth £2.03billion.
Through its acquisition of Burton's, Ferrero says it plans on “enlarging” the offer of products in the UK sweets biscuits market.
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