Scots café franchise snapped up by SLF

La Petite Croissanterie, the group that owns the Scottish master franchise for Délifrance, has been sold to the Macclesfield-based Sports and Leisure Foods (SLF) Group.

The SLF Group, founded 25 years ago, has acquired the company for £1.2m. The sale included three company-owned Délifrance cafés and two sub-franchised branches with a total turnover of about £1.4m.

The SLF Group has 60 locations nationwide, including catering contracts with local authorities and at airports. Its annual turnover is £12m.

Under the terms of its Délifrance master franchise, the company is obliged to add another Délifrance outlet north of the border every year. "We are committed to developing the brand in Scotland," said Jonathan Cawley, development and operations director.

The group's high street interests include two Spud U Like franchises and eight Brophy's coffee shops. It also has two Farmhouse serve-yourself kitchens but these will be converted to Brophy's as part of its ongoing strategy to expand that brand.

Providing licensed catering for more than 40 local authorities and services in leisure centres, theatres and civic centres, forms one of SLF's core interests.

Another significant sector is the airports division, which supplies catering, bar and in-flight catering services to six airports, including Aberdeen and the Isle of Man. SLF also operates three foodcourts in shopping centres.

The group's function catering division, Jupps, provides services for municipal golf courses and private functions.

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