Kout Food Group sells Little Chef sites to Euro Garages
Kout Food Group (KFG) has sold 70 Little Chef sites to Euro Garages for an undisclosed sum.
The widely tipped move sees the venerable Little Chef brand change hands once again, following KFG's acquisition of the business in 2013.
KFG retains ownership of the Little Chef brand.
Over the past three years, the Kuwait-backed business has completed a series of refurbishments and has opened 45 Burger King and Subway takeaway units within the larger Little Chef venues.
In a statement, KFG said it had ensured continued employment for all its roadside employees and said it was "confident that Euro Garages will continue to develop the strength of the people and roadside brands as well continue to serve their road side customers."
Euro Garages has partnerships with Starbucks, Subway, Greggs and Burger King but does not operate its own brands.
In 2013, the Blackburn-based company took on leases of five former Little Chefs for conversion into coffee shops in a licensing arrangement with Starbucks.
A spokesman for the business said: "In terms of future plans, the business will be committing significant investment as part of its ongoing capital investment programme to reinvigorate the estate. The acquisition includes the usage of the Little Chef brand, which remains owned by Kout Food Group."
A spokesman for Euro Garages parent company Intervias added: "We've completed the acquisition of two companies from the Kout Food Group, that between them control 78 roadside sites. The acquisition includes usage rights to the Little Chef and related brands. This transaction forms part of our growth plan to acquire and develop strategically-positioned sites, allowing us to bring a portfolio of market-leading brands to consumers and communities across the UK and elsewhere in Europe. It also consolidates Euro Garages' position as the UK's leading roadside retail operator."
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