KTC, leading supplier of edible oils, acquires Cardowan Creameries Ltd
By Andy MarinoMar 17, 2023
KTC (Edibles) Limited, the UK’s leading supplier of edible oils to foodservice, wholesalers, and food manufacturers, has acquired Cardowan Creameries Limited.
Established in 1930 as an independent family business based in Scotland, Cardowan is a specialist margarine manufacturer, supplying over 20,000 metric tonnes annually to manufacturers and wholesalers across the UK and internationally. Over its 90-year history, Cardowan has developed specialist techniques and methods to create some of the best bakery products in the world that are also vegan- and RSPO-certified.
The acquisition will take the combined turnover of the KTC Group to over £550 million and further strengthens KTC’s value-added processing capabilities and broadens the group’s product offering.
Following the acquisition, KTC plans to build on the well-invested platform laid down by the Kyle family with continuing capital investment in the Glasgow site to further increase capacity and drive sales growth.
“As a longstanding family business with a rich heritage, it was crucial to find the right home for Cardowan – we have found this in KTC, who are an excellent cultural and business fit,” said John Kyle, Chairman and owner of Cardowan. “This deal represents an exciting opportunity to accelerate Cardowan’s strategic growth plans and is a compelling addition to KTC.”
Paresh Mehta, CEO of KTC, said: “The purchase of Cardowan by KTC is excellent news for both businesses. We are excited by the opportunities that Cardowan brings to KTC to expand our offering and to service all our customers. I would like to thank John Kyle and Lesley McGhee for their support throughout the process and congratulate them on building a world-class business. We recognise the importance of the company’s heritage and production methods that have been nurtured for almost a century, and we look forward to welcoming the Cardowan team into the KTC family.”
UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.
Investment gap
Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.
Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.
Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive, noted “The UK can lead globally in medicines and vaccines, unlocking billions in R&D investment and improving patient access but only if barriers are removed and innovation rewarded.”
The UK invests just 9% of healthcare spending in medicines, compared with 17% in Spain, and only 37% of new medicines are made fully available for their licensed indications, compared to 90% in Germany.
Expert reviews
Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of Pharmacy Business, pointed that “The government’s own review shows the sector is underfunded by about £2 billion per year. To make transformation a reality, this gap must be closed with clear plans for investment in people, premises and technology.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cost-effectiveness threshold £20,000 to £30,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) — has remained unchanged for over two decades, delaying or deterring new medicine launches. Raising it is viewed as vital to attracting foreign investment, expanding patient access, and maintaining the UK’s global standing in life sciences.
Guy Oliver, General Manager for Bristol Myers Squibb UK and Ireland, noted that " the current VPAG rate is leaving UK patients behind other countries, forcing cuts to NHS partnerships, clinical trials, and workforce despite government growth ambitions".
Reeves’ push for reform, supported by the ABPI’s Competitiveness Framework, underlines Britain’s intent to stay a leading hub for pharmaceutical innovation while ensuring NHS patients will gain faster access to new treatments.
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