WATERSHEDS ADVISES ON CROSS-BORDER DEAL AS EMMI TARGETS ‘INDULGENCE MEGATREND’ WITH PURCHASE OF THE ENGLISH CHEESECAKE COMPANY

EMMI ACQUIRES THE ENGLISH CHEESECAKE COMPANY IN MOVE TO STRENGTHEN GLOBAL DESSERTS PORTFOLIO

Swiss dairy group Emmi has broadened its presence in the UK’s fast-growing premium desserts market with the acquisition of The English Cheesecake Company, a deal advised by corporate finance specialists Watersheds. The move underscores Emmi’s strategy to expand its global desserts portfolio and tap into the rising international demand for indulgent, premium bakery products.

The English Cheesecake Company — founded in 2000 as a family-run business — has grown into one of Britain’s most recognisable premium cheesecake producers. The company generated sales of around £23 million in its most recent financial year and has built a reputation for artisanal quality, traditional British recipes and flavours that align with shifting consumer preferences. Its range spans classic and vegan cheesecakes, frozen desserts and snack formats, stocked across all major UK retail chains and widely used in the foodservice sector.

For Emmi, the purchase provides a complementary extension to its existing UK operations. Mademoiselle Desserts, part of the Emmi Group, already holds a strong position supplying cheesecake and dessert products to British foodservice clients. By contrast, The English Cheesecake Company offers a well-established retail foothold, giving Emmi immediate access to supermarket distribution channels and a brand with strong consumer recognition.

“The bolt-on acquisition increases our presence in the fast-growing premium cheesecakes segment and contributes to the global indulgence megatrend. This represents a further step towards advancing our strong market position in the global premium desserts market and creating synergies within our portfolio,” said Didier Boudy, EVP Emmi Desserts.

The transaction was led by John Stopher, Partner at Watersheds, who said: “We’re delighted to have successfully completed this acquisition. We presented a selection of opportunities to the client and worked closely with them to achieve the best deal that would meet their ambitions for expansion in the UK.

“Ultimately, this is a perfect example of how we use our expertise and contacts to identify off-market deals and bring strategic acquisitions smoothly to fruition. There is an exciting opportunity ahead for the combined teams to unlock substantial growth potential, which we look forward to watching unfold.”

The deal reflects ongoing consolidation in the premium desserts category, driven by rising consumer appetite for indulgent and innovative sweet products, both in retail and foodservice. With The English Cheesecake Company joining its portfolio, Emmi is positioning itself to capture an even larger share of this expanding market in the UK and beyond.