SPAR wholesaler James Hall acquires Ann Forshaw’s Alston Dairy

Iconic Lancashire brand Ann Forshaw’s and its associated Alston Dairy has been acquired by the James Hall Group of Companies.

The acquisition sees the Group expand its portfolio of food manufacturing businesses in the North West to five, adding Ann Forshaw’s Alston Dairy to Clayton Park Bakery, Fazila Foods, Graham Eyes Butchers, and the Great Northern Sandwich Company.

Operating within the James Hall Group of Companies will mean business as usual for Alston Dairy, located just outside Longridge.

Ann Forshaw and Emma Coupe will remain as Directors and will run the company on a day-to-day basis, and all staff will continue in employment at Alston Diary. The Forshaw family’s Bolton Fold Farm next door will remain under ownership of the Forshaw family.

With a mission of producing high quality yoghurt from farm to pot within 24 hours, Alston Dairy will continue to purchase the milk from the family farm to maintain the product’s unique characteristic by using the freshest milk possible.

Dominic Hall, Joint Managing Director of James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “We are delighted to complete the acquisition of Alston Dairy and the Ann Forshaw’s brand which has an outstanding reputation for producing premium yoghurt products.

“We have sold Ann Forshaw’s products in our SPAR stores for many years, and they have played an important role in our dairy categories, becoming firm customer favourites.

“We continue to strive to source locally as much as we can and acquiring Alston Dairy will allow us to protect that ambition and keep the brand local.

“We are keen to grow the business further and see a huge amount of potential in the Ann Forshaw’s brand. We will grow the presence in more SPAR stores and continue to develop products in new categories, ensuring that greater numbers of customers can enjoy Ann Forshaw’s products.”

Ann Forshaw said: “Across several decades I have poured all of my energy and passion into growing the business, and with the support of a wonderful team, we have developed the brand and product range in to what it is today.

“However, I felt that the time was right for me to sell the business and I was keen to ensure that Alston Dairy and the Ann Forshaw’s brand was sold on to a company that has shared values and is similarly family-owned, so I am very pleased to complete the deal with James Hall.

“I am also very excited to remain as a Director of the business, together with Emma, to bring to life the new ideas that we have for Ann Forshaw’s products, and I am very much looking forward to a future where even more SPAR customers can access our fantastic yoghurt range.”

James Hall & Co. Ltd serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.