THE ANIMAL rights campaigner and vegan food entrepreneur Heather Mills has acquired leading plant-based food brand The Redwood Wholefood Company.

Rod Garland, director of Redwood, said the acquisition would yield significant synergies for both parties, which he described as ‘completely compatible’.

“The acquisition will enable us to accelerate growth of the Redwood brand around the world and allow Heather to promote veganism globally through her own restaurants and brands,” he added.  “Being a primary manufacturer is important as it gives much greater control over ingredients and quality.”

Mills, who opened the V-Bites vegan café in Brighton earlier this year, told Natural Products that she was delighted to have acquired the company.  “I’ve been a fan of Redwood and its ethical, compassionate foods for many years. So, for me, buying the company is a dream come true. We’ve got lots of plans to develop the range, but keeping the accent on great taste and Redwood’s core values.”

Redwood director Keith Stott said that despite the high profile acquisition (the story made headlines right across the media) it would be “business as usual” at the Corby-based company: “Our roots will remain firmly in the independent health food sector, just as they always have been.”

Recently ranked highest in the Ethical Company Organisation’s list of vegetarian foods suppliers for the third year running with an overall score of 95%, Redwood produces more than 50 different animal-free foods under the Cheatin’, VegiDeli and Cheezly brand names at its headquarters in Corby.

Stott added that although the company had been approached by many potential suitors, Mills’ values most closely aligned with Redwood’s. 

“We are delighted that the business has been acquired by someone with the dynamism and passion of Heather,” he said.  “We’ve been approached by many large food manufacturers in the past but have never wanted to jeopardise the future of our employees — who we value so much — or our factory by selling the business to a large corporation. By selling to Heather we are protecting our loyal staff and also our base in Corby.”

• Heather Mills opened the V-Bites vegan café in Hove, near Brighton, in May 2009. She also quietly launched a range of V-Bites branded frozen vegan meals which many consumers recognised as being made by Redwood.