British pet food manufacturer Assisi Pet Care has made a significant move to strengthen its position in the UK market, acquiring natural pet food brand Forthglade from private equity firm IK Partners.
The deal marks another step in Assisi Pet Care’s push to expand both its manufacturing footprint and its presence across the UK and Europe, adding a well-established, purpose-built brand to its portfolio.
The Deal Behind the Deal
IK Partners had owned Forthglade since 2020, having acquired the brand through its €550 million ($638 million) IK Small Cap II Fund, a pan-European private equity buyout vehicle. Under that ownership, Forthglade grew into a business reporting an annual turnover of £39.5 million ($53.2 million/€46.2 million) in 2025.
With Assisi Pet Care now taking over, the acquisition brings Forthglade’s production facility in Devon, located roughly 320 kilometres from London, into Assisi’s wider manufacturing network — a meaningful expansion of its UK production capacity.
Why Assisi Pet Care Made the Move
For CEO Chris Melander, the acquisition reflects a long-term commitment to investing in the UK while growing the company’s footprint both nationally and across Europe. “The South West is an important location because of Forthglade’s established operations and highly skilled team,” Melander told GlobalPETS.
Assisi Pet Care views the Devon site as a key strategic asset within its broader manufacturing network, and plans to keep investing in its future. “We see significant opportunities to increase capacity, enhance sustainability and expand product innovation,” Melander said.
What Changes, and What Stays the Same
Despite the change in ownership, Forthglade will continue operating as a standalone business under Assisi Pet Care. Melander expects the acquisition to strengthen support for retail and trade partners by combining complementary manufacturing capabilities, broader product portfolios, and greater overall scale between the two businesses.
“Our focus is on supporting sustainable growth, increasing manufacturing capability and creating a stronger platform for continued innovation and customer service across the UK and Europe,” Melander added.
Part of a Bigger Wave in European Pet Food
This acquisition doesn’t exist in isolation. It reflects a broader surge of investor interest in the European pet food and pet care market, following similar activity just last month from Verlinvest, Five Seasons Ventures, and Burgess Pet Care, all of whom made investments across the region.
For a sector facing rising competition and increasingly sophisticated consumer expectations around quality, sustainability, and innovation, deals like Assisi Pet Care’s acquisition of Forthglade signal how established manufacturers are choosing to grow: by bringing established, specialised brands into their networks rather than building that expertise from the ground up.
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