Meat suppliers celebrate adding another choice cut

Rawmarsh Road-based Underwood acquired Northern, which specialises in supplying the independent catering market, as part of a growth strategy which less than two months ago saw it buy Hampshire-based Barn Catering Butchers.

Sheffield dealmakers Strategic Corporate Finance steered through the deal as lead advisers, with director Kevan Shaw and executive Greg Barker providing fund-raising and project manage-ment services.

Mr Shaw, who also acted on behalf of the Underwood’s directors when they staged a management buy-out in 2003, said: “This is a terrific deal for Underwood’s because Northern Catering are a highly successful catering butchers with an excellent reputation and a well-developed range of customers.”

Underwood’s managing director John Heeley, said: “This acquisition is suitably placed to facilitate further strategic growth for both organisations. Northern Catering will continue to operate as a stand alone business that will complement our existing business.”