FARMHOUSE BISCUITS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
01145352 · ltd · incorporated 1973-11-14
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Dec 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
73/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 10720
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: leverage-led grower with strong profile and acceptable with review structure.
Opportunity 73/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Asset purchase likely safer than share purchase given structural signals. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 6 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (57/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
15 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 48.5y
25/100
too messy
Structure is too messy for a clean refinance right now — clean up first or expect bespoke terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 48.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 58/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
15 charges (15/15 with lender, 15/15 with type)
90
Directors & officers
11 officers (4 active, 11 linked, 10 with DOB)
88
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
172 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
🔒Estimated company valuation
Sector-multiple EBITDA, turnover, and NAV-proxy valuation range with confidence tier — derived from extracted iXBRL financials.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Opportunity Score
73/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
66
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Profitable
Profit before tax £631,620
Turned profitable
Returned to profit this year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102| Metric | 2025-12-30 | 2024-12-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Profit before tax | £631.6k | £-992.3k |
| Average employees | 231 | 236 |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
2 signals detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Recent activity
Last 30 days
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
Last 90 days
3
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 officers
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
5
filings
- • 2 officers
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (57 events)Click to expand
- 2026-07-13📄replacement-filing-of-director-appointment-with-nameofficers · RP01AP01
- 2026-06-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2026-03-24📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2026-03-12📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2026-03-11➖ACHESON-GRAY, Philip De Behr resigneddirector
- 2026-03-11🔒Charge registered #15Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2025-12-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-09-29📄change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortenedaccounts · AA01
- 2025-07-31➕WEBSTER, Simon appointeddirector
- 2025-07-31➖MC IVOR, Dorothy May resignedsecretary
- 2025-07-31➖MCIVOR, Dorothy May resigneddirector
- 2025-07-31➖MCIVOR, Wendy resigneddirector
- 2025-07-31📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-07-31📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-07-31📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2025-07-31📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2025-07-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2025-07-14📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-07-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-10-17📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2024-10-17📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-09-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-08-31➖LIVESEY, David resigneddirector
- 2023-09-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-05📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2022-11-15📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-11-15📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-10-03📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-10-01➕HAMMONDS, Deborah appointeddirector
- 2022-06-30➖BIRBECK, Anthony James resigneddirector
- 2022-04-01➕WHALLEY, Joanne appointeddirector
- 2021-10-09➖MCIVOR, Ronald Philip resigneddirector
- 2020-09-16🔒Charge registered #14Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2019-03-01➕ACHESON-GRAY, Philip De Behr appointeddirector
- 2019-03-01➕BIRBECK, Anthony James appointeddirector
- 2019-03-01➕LIVESEY, David appointeddirector
- 2018-09-13🔒Charge registered #13Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2011-09-29🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2003-04-06➕MCIVOR, Gillian appointeddirector
- 2003-04-06➕MCIVOR, Wendy appointeddirector
- 2001-10-25🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2000-01-28🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 1999-11-17🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 1999-09-17🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1999-02-19🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1996-12-13🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1994-12-02🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 1991-01-26🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 1991-01-26🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 1991-01-26🔓Charge satisfied #1
Showing most recent 50 of 57 events
Owner dependency
58/100
Moderate — manageable with handoverSome founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 23 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 64 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
70/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 63+: Senior director is approximately 64. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 23 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
2 med · 1 low4 director resignations in last 12 months
mediumMultiple recent departures can indicate governance disagreement, succession event, or preparation for sale/stress.
Evidence: MC IVOR, Dorothy May resigned 2025-07-31; ACHESON-GRAY, Philip De Behr resigned 2026-03-11; MCIVOR, Dorothy May resigned 2025-07-31
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
10 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mrs Dorothy May Mcivor Individual · British · DOB 11/1941 · age 85 | 25–50% | 25–50% | 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting | 06/04/2016 |
Ms Gillian Mcivor Individual · British · DOB 11/1962 · age 64 | — | — | sig. influencesignificant influence | 06/04/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Ronald Philip Mcivorceased 09/10/2021· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
🔒Co-director network graph
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Similar companies
Active · Food & drink · BB postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BERTWISTLES (BAKERS) LIMITED→ 00859279 · est 1965 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 60y | — | — |
| EDDIES BAKERS LTD→ 16970162 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EDIBLOO FOODS LTD→ 13995893 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| FINA HOLDINGS LIMITED→ 14177980 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| FINEST KASHMIR LIMITED→ 12698081 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| FLAVOURS AND ESSENCES UK LIMITED→ 03615408 · est 1998 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 27y | — | — |
| FREEZE FUSION LTD→ 15199992 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| FRESHLY FUELLED LIMITED→ 14691872 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| FUCTIVINO LTD→ 07304138 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| GACE GROUP LTD→ 15098881 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| GLOBAL TEA AND COFFEE EXCHANGE LIMITED→ 07002825 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| GOURMET MUSCLE CHEF LTD→ 12892679 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
7 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →🔒Advanced scoring suite
Exit-route ranking, improvement thesis, quiet-distress detector, covenant-pressure proxy, extraction monitor, approaching triggers, ownership drift, local cluster, value trap, debt capacity, archetype classification — 48+ scoring modules.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Company details
Statusactive
Typeltd
Incorporated1973-11-14
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC10720 — SIC 10720
Registered office
Brook Street Mill
Brook Street
Nelson
Lancashire
BB9 9PX
United Kingdom
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-09-30
Last made up to: 2025-12-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-07-14
Last: 2026-06-30
Officers (4 active · 7 resigned)
HAMMONDS, Deborah→
Activedirector · ~51y · appointed 2022-10-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MCIVOR, Gillian→
Activedirector · ~64y · appointed 2003-04-06
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WEBSTER, Simon→
Activedirector · ~47y · appointed 2025-07-31
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WHALLEY, Joanne→
Activedirector · ~46y · appointed 2022-04-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MC IVOR, Dorothy May→
Resignedsecretary · resigned 2025-07-31
ACHESON-GRAY, Philip De Behr→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2019-03-01 · resigned 2026-03-11
BIRBECK, Anthony James→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2019-03-01 · resigned 2022-06-30
LIVESEY, David→
Resigneddirector · ~70y · appointed 2019-03-01 · resigned 2024-08-31
MCIVOR, Dorothy May→
Resigneddirector · ~85y · resigned 2025-07-31
MCIVOR, Ronald Philip→
Resigneddirector · ~90y · resigned 2021-10-09
MCIVOR, Wendy→
Resigneddirector · ~60y · appointed 2003-04-06 · resigned 2025-07-31
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
15
Total charges
10
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:15 of 15 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 11/03/2026 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 16/09/2020 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 13/09/2018 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 2 properties | 29/09/2011 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 25/10/2001 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 17/09/1999 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 19/02/1999 | — | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge by the company as mortgager and by wendy birbeck as occupier | 1 property | 13/12/1996 | 28/01/2000 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 02/12/1994 | — | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 20/06/1988 | — | |
| satisfied | Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation Limited | Supplemental legal charge. | 1 property | 26/01/1982 | 26/01/1991 | |
| satisfied | Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation . Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation Limited. | Supplemental legal charge | 1 property | 21/03/1980 | 26/01/1991 | |
| satisfied | Lillian Nelson / Charles Eric Nelson | Debenture | 1 property | 19/01/1979 | 17/11/1999 | |
| outstanding | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 20/06/1978 | — | |
| satisfied | Industrial & Commercial Finance Corporation Industrial & Commercial Finance Corporation Limited | Charge | 1 property | 31/01/1978 | 26/01/1991 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (172 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-07-14
replacement-filing-of-director-appointment-with-name
officers · RP01AP01
2026-07-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-06-09
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-03-24
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2026-03-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-12-28
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2025-09-29
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-07-31
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-07-31
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-07-31
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2025-07-31
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-14
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-07-14
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-07-14
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2025-07-14