BHW Advises Hay Hampers On Merger with Moguntia Food Group

Lincolnshire-headquartered Hay Hampers Limited has been sold to the British element of the international Moguntia Food Group.

Founded in early ‘80, the luxury food and wine company was taken over by the family-owned Italian company Dare & Dare Limited in 2014. Since then, Hay Hampers has reported steady and consistent growth.

Gabriele Da Re of Hay Hampers with Paul Yeates of Moguntia Food Group

In just six years, the Bourne-based gourmet firm has acquired a distinctive position in the upmarket gift industry, becoming a well-recognized brand and one of the most successful hamper companies in the UK to the extent that it was awarded national accolades and chosen as a university case study.

The 2020 financial year, which was closed at the end of August, has been the best year ever for Hay Hampers with the notable achievement of 100,000 hampers sold and despatched all over the world from rural Lincolnshire.

A range of carefully and expertly selected premium gourmet food and wine products from small, artisan producers based in the UK as well as in Europe has been a key factor in the fast success of the company, which has shown an innovative and international approach to the market.

For the couple Gabriele Da Re and Elisabeth Och, Directors at Hay Hampers, the local community remains at the heart of their work. “For a family-run business such as Hay Hampers, it’s all about people. It’s our people who have made the biggest difference even in the most challenging times during lockdown. To all our colleagues at Hay Hampers goes our deepest appreciation and thanks for their hard work and the goals achieved in the last years together. With great people, you have a great business!”

Commenting on the merger, Gabriele Da Re said: “We are delighted to be able to announce this deal with the international firm Moguntia Food Group which we believe creates the next phase in Hay Hampers’ positive trajectory as it will open new business opportunities and markets”.

Gabriele added: “BHW Solicitors have provided us with an accurate and reliable legal service in our merger deal. Since the very beginning, we have built very good relations with Ed and his skilled team. Ed has been a true business partner throughout the negotiations”.

With existing UK sites in Hetton-le-Hole – Durham and in Market Harborough – Leicestershire, Moguntia Food Group is a 4th generation family business with headquarters in Switzerland. It operates in various channels and sectors in the food industry, has large manufacturing sites in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, UK and is present in 23 countries.

Paul Yeates, CEO of the UK and a Group Board Director said: “The acquisition of Hay Hampers achieves our strategic objective of building and developing our e-commerce/online presence in this growing channel. We intend to build on the excellent work that Gabriele and Elisabeth have done and look forward to welcoming all the Hay Hampers’ colleagues to the Moguntia family”.

BHW Solicitors’ corporate partner, Ed Nurse, led the team advising Dare & Dare Limited on the transaction. Ed said: “Dare & Dare Limited’s achievement with Hay Hampers is a true success story, having grown the business exponentially since its acquisition only 6 years ago. Family-run businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and it was a pleasure to support Gabriele and Elisabeth through to the next stage in their journey”.

George Seward of Corporate Mergers also advised on the transaction for the owners. George said: “We were delighted to be able to assist the owners with the sale of their business. Having identified Moguntia Food Group as an excellent fit (for the Business), we were able to structure the transaction and assist the owners throughout the process leading to a successful conclusion”.