BUSINESS NEWS: Private equity backing for Acorn brands

Fleming Family & Partners (FF&P) and Lord Kalms, the founder of electricals retailer Dixons, have agreed to back Acorn Brands, which owns the Oja fruit juice brand.

FF&P (the Fleming family’s private equity vehicle) has taken a minority stake in the start-up and has supplied the company with £69 million of equity to help finance future deals. Brendan Harris, the former Coca-Cola executive who heads up Acorn, hopes to make the firm the biggest player in the European soft drinks industry, after Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.

So far, the company only has  one brand, Oja (sold in Asda and Carrefour outlets) in its portfolio but it  plans to launch a second one later on this year.

Partner Content

Watermill Wines’ launches second wine in its Terra Organica Parcel Series

Wild Idol plans summer takeover

Why organic viticulture is more than an afterthought for Arínzano

Where to start with case discounts on wine in the US

The company is also looking to make mid-market acquisitions in the UK, Germany, Austria, France, Italy and Spain.

© db August 2006