Premier Foods announced that it has agreed to acquire Merchant Gourmet, a leading premium brand known for its healthy, convenient meal solutions. The move reinforces Premier Foods’ strategy of acquiring brands where it can add value and accelerate growth.

Merchant Gourmet has established itself as a market leader in ready-to-eat pulses and grains, microwaveable rice, and “meals in minutes.” The brand has delivered a strong track record of profitable sales growth, driven by a broad consumer base, exceptionally high repeat purchase rates, and continued expansion into new categories.

The acquisition is highly complementary to Premier Foods’ portfolio and aligns seamlessly with the Group’s focus on health-driven, convenience-led innovation. Premier Foods expects to unlock significant value by leveraging its proven branded growth model to further scale Merchant Gourmet’s presence and performance.

Alex Whitehouse, chief executive officer, Premier Foods, said, “We’re very pleased to have agreed the acquisition of Merchant Gourmet, which meets the growing demand for premium, healthy and convenient meal options. Replicating the success of our previous two acquisitions, The Spice Tailor and FUEL10K, we will be deploying our proven branded growth model; expanding retailer distribution, accelerating new product development, and increasing marketing investment to unlock further profitable growth for the brand. Merchant Gourmet expands our category presence, complementing our already strong brand portfolio, and we look forward to welcoming the team to Premier Foods.”

Richard Peake, managing director, Merchant Gourmet, said, “Merchant Gourmet has always been about creating great-tasting, premium, healthy food that anyone can enjoy. Over the last few years, our team have worked incredibly hard, delivering double digit revenue growth and demonstrating huge success in entering new categories and new markets. Finding the best home for both Merchant Gourmet and our valued team is something we have thought carefully about, and we believe Premier Foods is the right partner to match our ambition. They understand where we’ve come from, they respect what makes our brand special, and we’re excited to continue innovating boldly and inspiring people to fall in love with simple, good food.”

Premier Foods has completed the acquisition of 100% of Merchant Gourmet for an enterprise value of £48.0 million on a cash- and debt-free basis. Merchant Gourmet has reported revenues of approximately £28 million, demonstrating strong double-digit growth over the past two years. The valuation reflects a high single-digit EV/EBITDA multiple, and the transaction is expected to be earnings accretive in its first full year of ownership. The deal was finalized on 1 September 2025.

This strategic acquisition highlights Premier Foods’ ongoing commitment to building a diverse, consumer-focused portfolio and driving sustainable long-term growth.