FDBusiness.com

International snack foods producer Kettle Foods has completed the acquisition of Metcalfe’s skinny by purchasing the remaining 74% interest in the leading UK premium popcorn brand. Kettle Foods had initially acquired a 26% stake in the business from Metcalfe in January 2016. Metcalfe was founded in 2009 by Julian Metcalfe, the co-founder of Pret A Manger and founder of itsu.

Metcalfe’s skinny is the UK’s leading premium popcorn brand, and also incorporates a fast growing range of corn and rice cake products. The UK popcorn market is one of the fastest growing categories within the UK snack food industry, growing by 45% over the last two years as consumers increasingly seek out better-for-you snacking options. The addition of a leading premium popcorn brand, Metcalfe’s skinny popcorn®, to the UK’s leading premium chip brand, KETTLE® Chips, reflects Kettle Foods’ ambition to evolve into a more widely based premium snacking leader in Europe.

Ashley Hicks, managing director of Kettle Foods, comments: “Metcalfe’s skinny popcorn® is an incredibly innovative premium brand that has built a strong foundation in the UK market. We now have the opportunity to extend the brand’s success story with further innovation and brand development, and as a result, drive even stronger growth in this exciting category.”

Kettle Foods is part of US-based Snyder’s-Lance. Snyder’s-Lance manufactures and markets snack foods throughout the US and internationally. Products include pretzels, sandwich crackers, pretzel crackers, potato chips, cookies, tortilla chips, restaurant style crackers, popcorn, nuts and other snacks. Products are sold under the Snyder’s of Hanover®, Lance®, Kettle Brand®, KETTLE® Chips, Cape Cod®, Snack Factory® Pretzel Crisps®, Pop Secret®, Emerald®, Diamond of California®, Late July®, Krunchers!®, Tom’s®, Archway®, Jays®, Stella D’oro®, Eatsmart Snacks™, O-Ke-Doke®, and other brand names along with a number of third party brands.

Carl E. Lee, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Snyder’s-Lance commented, “We are excited to add the Metcalfe’s skinny brands to our portfolio and expand our presence in the UK marketplace. We see tremendous growth in the UK with additional opportunities for further international expansion for our innovative collection of snacking brands. This addition to our branded portfolio provides us with another better-for-you option in a growth snacking category in the European markets, and we look forward to supporting the continued success of the Metcalfe’s skinny brands.”