Food and agribusiness

Food and agribusiness - illustration

We have one of the largest teams of food and agricultural lawyers in the country, with experts specialising in every legal element of the food supply chain.

Businesses in the food and agri-sector have to contend with complex commercial imperatives and regulations. 

Some have to deal with subsidies, the environment and gang labour, while others are focused on food safety, food quality, labelling and marketing. Health and safety, employment, tenancies, leases, competition, joint ventures, insurance, partnerships, corporate mergers, acquisitions and disposals, banking and finance and commercial agreements....the list of potential issues is seemingly never-ending.

We understand the issues you face and 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 lawyers

Our team is made up of lawyers with deep understanding of the concerns of the food and agribusiness sector, and experts who work exclusively for particular food and agri companies.

Our experience

  • Acted for Hugh Lowe Farms on their acquisition of premium salad grower LJ Betts.
  • Advised Richardson Malting (UK) (a subsidiary of Canadian Agribusiness Richardson International) on its acquisition of international malting company, Anglia Maltings. 
  • Advised Strutt & Parker (Farms) Limited on their sale to Robigus Limited.
  • Advised Refresco on their acquisition of a substantial bottling plant from Coca-Cola Enterprises and the sale of a factory.
  • Acted on the sale of Harry Ramsden's for the Boparan Restaurant Group to Deep Blue Restaurants.
  • Advised on the acquisition by Frontier Agriculture of the marketing and storage business of Fengrain Limited and Fengrain (Storage) Limited.
  • Acted for CPC Foods on the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of C & K Meats Limited and 75% purchase of Riverway Foods Holdings.
  • Acted for Coca Cola Amatil on the sale of SPC Ardmona to World Wise Foods.
  • Advised Puratos Group NV on their acquisition of the entire share capital of Fruitapeel Holdings.
  • Acting for Greene King on the sale of a portfolio of 16 pubs to Heineken UK's Star Pubs & Bars, Marstons and Hall & Woodhouse.
  • Advising Farmcare on all its agribusiness and property matters.
  • Working with Trinity College, Cambridge on the management of its agricultural portfolio, including tenancy restructuring, acquisitions and disposals.
  • Advising the Wellcome Trust on the £249 million acquisition for the farming business of the Co-operative Group.

Our clients

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

  • Large landowners and private farming families
  • International food growers and processors
  • Major food packagers and bottlers
  • International brewers and wine producers
  • Major restaurant chains such as McDonald's

Legal resources you may find useful

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

Did you know?

Further reading

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