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Food and agribusiness

We have one of the country's largest teams of food, beverage and agricultural solicitors. Our food and agricultural lawyers are experts, specialising in every legal element of the food supply chain.

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Businesses in the food and agribusiness sector have to contend with complex commercial imperatives and regulations.  
 
Issues can be as diverse as understanding agricultural subsidies, the environment, governance and gang labour, through to food and product safety, food quality, labelling and marketing. Other matters can involve health and safety, employment, tenancies, leases, licencing, energy, competition, litigation, joint ventures, insurance, partnerships, corporate mergers, acquisitions and disposals, banking and finance and commercial agreements....the list can be seemingly never-ending. 
 
Our food and agricultural lawyers’ understanding and experience of the sector means we can deal with the legal technicalities, helping you keep track of regulatory requirements and providing robust, practical advice to guide you when you need it.

Our experience

Our team of food and agricultural lawyers has deep expertise in the food and agribusiness sector, with work examples including:

  • Tate & Lyle Sugars on the acquisition of the B2B business of Tereos UK including advising on the competition law aspects, as the acquisition was referred by the CMA to a phase 1 and phase 2. 

  • Hugh Lowe Farms on their acquisition of premium salad grower LJ Betts. 

  • Richardson Malting (UK) (a subsidiary of Canadian Agribusiness Richardson International) on its acquisition of international malting company, Anglia Maltings.  

  • Shareholders of Strutt & Parker (Farms) Limited on its sale to Robigus Limited. 

  • Refresco on their acquisition of a substantial bottling plant from Coca-Cola Enterprises and the sale of a factory. 

  • The sale of Harry Ramsden's for the Boparan Restaurant Group to Deep Blue Restaurants. 

  • CPC Foods on the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of C & K Meats Limited and 75% purchase of Riverway Foods Holdings and 50% of Peddars Pigs. 

  • Coca Cola Amatil on the sale of SPC Ardmona to World Wise Foods. 

  • Puratos Group NV on their acquisition of the entire share capital of Fruitapeel Holdings. 
  • Greene King on the sale of a portfolio of 16 pubs to Heineken UK's Star Pubs & Bars, Marstons and Hall & Woodhouse. 

  • Keelings International on a successful resolution of a significant dispute.

  • The Wellcome Trust on the £249 million acquisition for the farming business of the Co-operative Group known as Farmcare and then on all its agribusiness and property matters. 

  • Fengrain on the sale of Fengrain’s storage business and assets to Frontier Agriculture.

  • Many clients on all of their food regulatory compliance requirements including labelling and advertising.

Did you know?

Food and Agribusiness Law Blog

Our specialist blog keeps you updated on all new developments affecting the agribusiness and food sector.

Agriculture & Rural Affairs Chambers UK 2019

Ranked Band 1 for East Anglia: "If I want something done right, I will go to Mills & Reeve".

Product Liability Food Chambers UK 2019

Jessica Burt is ranked Band 1 for Product Liability Food, and called: "a go-to for compliance."

What our clients say about us

 

“I have always found them to be highly professional, very competent and very effective at what they do. If I want something done right I will go to Mills & Reeve. ”

Client feedback

Chambers UK

“On Jessica Burt for Product Liability Food: "She's experienced, practical and easy to get along with".”

Client feedback

Chambers UK

“On Michael Aubrey for Agriculture and Rural Affairs: "He's very diligent, thorough, experienced and knowledgeable". ”

Client feedback

Chambers UK

Our clients

Our food and agricultural lawyers have experience across the whole range of food and agribusinesses from 'farm to fork': 

  • Large landowners, institutional agriculture investors and private farming families 
  • International food growers and processors 
  • Major food packagers and bottlers 
  • International brewers and wine producers 
  • Major restaurant chains 

Our lawyers

Our team is made up of food, beverage and agricultural solicitors with deep understanding of the concerns of your sector and are experts who work exclusively for food and agribusiness companies. 

5 key differentiators

  1. Our solicitors for food regulation can advise on food compliance issues

  2. One of the largest teams of agricultural lawyers who have advised on the two largest farm and agribusiness transactions in the country 

  3. Specialists in GSCOP who have successfully applied the grocery code in defending clients’ interests against the major retailers

  4. An experienced competition law team that advises clients on day-to-day competition compliance issues and also on strategic mergers and acquisitions including Phase 2 investigations

  5. Corporate and real estate transactional lawyers acting for major global food businesses on cross border transactions

Get in touch

Our team of legal experts are here to support you.
Contact one of our lawyers today.

Follow our food and agribusiness blog

Our food and agribusiness law blog covers all legal aspects of the sector. 

Webinar: Hot topics facing the food and agribusiness sector

We covered topics including the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) policy priorities, the CMA’s enforcement activities and more... 

Your main contacts

Frequently asked questions

A crisis of any kind be it via a virus, a contamination or pollution, bacteria, chemical or even radiation may have domestic, European or global repercussions for production, customers and supply chains. We set out recommendations a business can take ahead of time to best protect themselves.

We can also provide bespoke reviews of internal management and policies to ensure due diligence practices are maintained and provide specialist training to the board.

Our specialist food & agribusiness team advises on a full range on matters, from undertaking product reviews, new product launches, labelling, advertising, marketing and promotions, IP and brand protection, novel and borderline products.

We advise generally on all aspects of regulatory and compliance (including nutrition and health and food information) to product liability issues, contamination and recall.  We help clients liaise with trade and enforcement authorities, investigations, prosecutions and Advertising Standards Authority complaints.

We advise on a range of commercial contracts and understand the requirements of food safety and quality.

Our team are expert in litigation and dispute management as well as liaising with trade and enforcement authorities, from the Grocery Code Adjudicator to Defra, the APHA and the Food Standards Authority

It is important to ensure regulatory compliance and our food regulatory specialists have in-depth experience in advising on all health and nutritional claims in labelling and marketing as well as for borderline products.

Our food regulatory experts work together with our advertising and IP experts to provide a full service offering whether that it is via an overview on regulated products and restrictions or bespoke advice for your marketing.

There are a few initial things to consider:

1)         Are there are any title issues or concerns which need to be rectified?

2)         Are there any boundary issues which need to be resolved?

3)         What rights of way or services need to be granted for the land being sold or reserved for the land being retained?

4)         Does the land have any future development potential which you may want to capture by an overage?

5)         What are the tax implications of a sale.

 

We have a range of experts who can help you with your decision and take you through the whole legal process.  We regularly work with agents at all stages of the deal, from drawing up the heads of terms through to completion of the sale.  Please contact either Marie Bernard or Michael Aubrey to discuss or find out.

  1. Does the paddock have the appropriate planning / use?
  2. Are there are any current occupiers of the paddock?
  3. Will the new tenant be running a business from the paddock?
  4. Who will be responsible for fencing and any stables?
  5. What is the proposed term of the tenancy?

We have a range of experts who can help you with your decision and take you through the whole legal process.  We can help advise on the correct type of tenancy or licence and any formalities associated with them. We regularly work with agents at all stages of the deal, from drawing up the heads of terms through to completion of the tenancy agreement.  Please contact either Marie Bernard or Michael Aubrey to discuss or find out.

  1. Length of tenancy: How long of a tenancy do you require for your business? Consider how long the tenancy is for and whether it is long enough for your business needs as there are specific rules for tenancies of less than two years.

  2. Rent & rent review: Will you be able to afford the rent due if it increases? Either the landlord or tenant can demand a rent review every 3 years pursuant to the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986. However, landlords and tenants can agree on how often a rent review should take place (e.g. every five years) – this agreement replaces the law.

  3. Improvements: Consider whether you will need to make any improvements to the Property during your occupation The Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 entitles a tenant to compensation when they quit the property for physical improvements and for intangible advantages which increase the value of the holding. However, no compensation will be payable unless the landlord has given consent to the improvement.

  4. Termination: where the term is less than two years, the tenancy expires automatically at the end of the term. No notice to quit is required to be given by the landlord or the tenant. Where the term is for two years or more, written notice must be given at least one year in advance. Will you be able to comply with this notice period?

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