Convex advises on Langfords sale to Red Sky Food Group.
Convex advised the shareholders of Langfords, a premium Welsh meat products manufacturer, on a strategic sale to Red Sky Food Group, a newly formed food manufacturing platform established through a joint venture between London-listed Literacy Capital and food industry veteran Mark Chantler.
Langfords – https://www.langfordssausages.co.uk
Literacy Capital – https://www.literacycapital.com
Founded in 2017 by father and son Paul and Richard Pindar and listed on the London Stock Exchange, Literacy Capital is a closed-end investment company focused on investing in and supporting small, growing UK businesses for the long term, targeting companies with EBITDA of between £1 million and £10 million. The firm takes a highly flexible, permanent capital approach to investing, with a portfolio spanning business services, manufacturing, consumer, healthcare, and food and beverage sectors. Red Sky Food Group was established as a 50:50 joint venture between Literacy Capital and Mark Chantler, the former CEO and chairman of dairy ingredients specialist Meadow Foods, who brings deep experience of leading food manufacturing businesses through multiple private equity-backed growth phases. The acquisition of Langfords was the first investment for Red Sky Food Group, which has since gone on to acquire a second business, Delenco Foods, with the combined platform now generating approximately £35 million in annual revenues across two manufacturing sites.
Literacy Capital has invested alongside Mark Chantler, who will be joining the newly formed parent Red Sky Food Group as Executive Chairman at completion. Mark brings a wealth of experience and a successful track record in food manufacturing as the former CEO of Meadow Foods, a dairy ingredients manufacturer, where he led the business through two successful private equity ownership periods before exiting in 2024.
Langford’s was established in 2003 by John Langford and Christine Gethin. Langford’s is a trusted brand with a deep heritage in food manufacturing, having enjoyed considerable growth over the term of their ownership. Literacy’s investment facilitates the retirement of John and Christine, whilst Christine’s son, Josh Gethin, remains in the business as Managing Director of Langford’s, leading on developing new product lines and customer accounts.
Langford’s premium quality products, agile production, and excellent customer service have helped it to build a stellar reputation as a reliable supplier, highly valued by its customers. Langford’s operates from well-invested factory premises located in Welshpool, Powys, and employs 40 members of staff.
Working with British-sourced produce, Langford’s manufactures an award-winning range of produce across sausages, meatballs, and burgers, which it supplies to well-recognised businesses and groups across the foodservice sector.
Langford’s is an attractive platform investment for Red Sky Food Group, which will look to grow organically and via acquisitions in the food manufacturing sector, focusing on protein-based products.
Mark Chantler, Executive Chairman of Red Sky Food Group, commented:
“I am delighted to be investing alongside Literacy Capital in Langford’s, and becoming Executive Chairman of its new parent, Red Sky Food Group.
I am excited to be supporting Josh in his role as Managing Director to further build on the excellent foundations established by John, Christine, and Josh at Langford’s, as well as working with the team at Literacy Capital to source additional opportunities as we build out the Red Sky Food Group more broadly.”
