Acquisition of Sopral by IPN

Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN), an animal nutrition company controlled by CapVest Partners LLP (CapVest), and Parquest, an investment company, have agreed to acquire Sopral, a platform for branded pet food for the European market with production facilities in France.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Financial details were not disclosed, according to the press release.

Based in Pléchâtel, Brittany, France, Sopral is a leading manufacturer of premium dry pet food with brands such as Pro-Nutrition Prestige, Pure Life and Protect, with a market presence in over 50 countries worldwide.

The company employs over 130 people and operates a state-of-the-art production facility with a total area of 13 400 m².

Matthew Fargie of CapVest said: “Following the acquisition of Butcher's last year, Sopral is another great addition to the IPN platform, providing IPN with significant capacity and greater reach to support growth in Europe. The acquisition opens up a range of new opportunities for organic and acquisition-driven growth and is an excellent example of CapVest's commitment to building strong, differentiated global businesses through significant investment in people, technology, innovation and capabilities.“

Headquartered in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, UK, IPN is best known as a market leader in dog food in the UK. The company sells under the Harringtons, Butcher's and Wagg brands. The company was acquired in 2020 by international investment company and buy-and-build specialist CapVest and subsequently acquired in 2021 together with the premium dog and cat food brands Aatu, Barking Heads and Meowing Heads from Pet Food UK. In August 2024, IPN acquired Butcher's Pet Care (BPC), a leading manufacturer of wet pet food in the United Kingdom.