COUNTRY STYLE FOODS LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
02554051 · ltd · incorporated 1990-10-31
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
—
not disclosed
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 10611
Sector: Manufacturing
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 10710Manufacture of bread; manufacture of fresh pastry goods and cakes
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 83-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 83). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 5 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (45/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
12 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 32.0y
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 32.0 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 50/100 (high).
Data confidence
Overall: medium (60/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Company profile
address, 2 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
No iXBRL financials extracted
0
Lenders & charges
12 charges (12/12 with lender, 12/12 with type)
90
Directors & officers
9 officers (5 active, 9 linked, 7 with DOB)
86
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
10 connected companies via shared directors
75
Filing history
130 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (47 events)Click to expand
- 2026-01-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2025-09-16📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2025-09-12➕DEAN, Jennifer Elizabeth appointedsecretary
- 2025-09-12➕DEAN, Jennifer Elizabeth appointeddirector
- 2025-09-12📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2025-09-12📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2025-09-12📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2025-09-12📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-09-12📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2025-01-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2024-01-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2023-01-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2022-12-12📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-12-12📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2022-11-28➖WOOD, Joseph Anthony resignedsecretary
- 2022-11-28➖WOOD, Joseph Anthony resigneddirector
- 2022-01-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2021-02-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2020-01-24📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2019-01-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-groupaccounts · AA
- 2017-06-01➕HOLDING, Stephen John appointeddirector
- 2010-03-06🔓Charge satisfied #9
- 2009-12-09🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2009-12-09🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2009-12-09🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2008-03-28➖WOOD, David Anthony resigneddirector
- 2007-04-27🔒Charge registered #12Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 2007-04-27🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Clydesdale Bank PLC
- 2004-05-06🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2004-04-30🔒Charge registered #10Lender: Yorkshire Bank PLC
- 2003-08-28🔒Charge registered #9Lender: Yorkshire Bank PLC
- 2002-11-16➕WOOD, Charles Joseph appointeddirector
- 2001-01-03🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Yorkshire Bank PLC
- 1999-09-15🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Yorkshire Bank PLC
- 1999-03-18🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 1998-12-29🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 1998-12-29🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 1998-11-27🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Yorkshire Bank PLC
- 1998-11-06🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Yorkshire Bank PLC
- 1998-08-26🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Rank Hovis Limited
- 1998-03-24🔒Charge registered #3Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1998-01-01➖THOMPSON, Bernard resigneddirector
- 1997-03-28🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Lombard Natwest Discounting Limited
- 1994-07-08🔒Charge registered #1Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 1994-06-24➕THOMPSON, Bernard appointeddirector
- 1991-11-30➕WOOD, Joseph Anthony appointedsecretary
- 1990-10-31🏢Company incorporatedAs COUNTRY STYLE FOODS LIMITED
Owner dependency
73/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 24 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 83 — succession pressure is live.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
80/100
Likely off-market candidateStrong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.
SIGNALS
- primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 83 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 24 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
1 med ·Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Charles Joseph Wood Individual · British · DOB 04/1979 · age 47 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 06/04/2016 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mrs Christine Elizabeth Woodceased 30/08/2024· 25-50% shares
- Mr Joseph Anthony Woodceased 30/08/2024· 25-50% shares
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
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BISON POWER LTD→ 17015972 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CAFE 11:11 LTD→ 16533523 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CHUNK COOKIES LTD→ 15000291 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| CLO COFFEE LIMITED→ 11562926 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| COMPASSIONATE KITCHEN LTD→ 12789029 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| DALESMALT LIMITED→ 14086477 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| DAVID LISHMAN LIMITED→ 03378665 · est 1997 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 28y | — | — |
| DAVID WOOD BAKING (HOLDINGS) LIMITED→ 15587013 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| DAVID WOOD BAKING LIMITED→ 06541251 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| DAVID WOOD BAKING UK LIMITED→ 06665444 · est 2008 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 17y | — | — |
| DAVID WOOD FOODS LTD→ 11222487 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| DAWUD 402 LTD→ 15893555 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
8 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
Incorporated1990-10-31
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC10611 — SIC 10611
Registered office
50 Pontefract Lane
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS9 8HY
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-01-31
Last made up to: 2025-04-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-07-07
Last: 2026-06-23
Officers (5 active · 4 resigned)
DEAN, Jennifer Elizabeth→
Activesecretary · appointed 2025-09-12
View their other companies + combined net worth →
DEAN, Jennifer Elizabeth→
Activedirector · ~46y · appointed 2025-09-12
View their other companies + combined net worth →
HOLDING, Stephen John→
Activedirector · ~60y · appointed 2017-06-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WOOD, Charles Joseph→
Activedirector · ~47y · appointed 2002-11-16
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
WOOD, Joseph Anthony→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 1991-11-30 · resigned 2022-11-28
THOMPSON, Bernard→
Resigneddirector · ~98y · appointed 1994-06-24 · resigned 1998-01-01
WOOD, David Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~58y · resigned 2008-03-28
WOOD, Joseph Anthony→
Resigneddirector · ~87y · resigned 2022-11-28
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
12
Total charges
4
Outstanding
1
Active lenders
Status:Lender:12 of 12 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Chattel mortgage | 1 property | 27/04/2007 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Clydesdale Bank PLC | Chattel mortgage | 1 property | 27/04/2007 | — | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Yorkshire Bank PLC | Chattel mortgage | 2 properties | 30/04/2004 | — | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Yorkshire Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 28/08/2003 | 06/03/2010 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Yorkshire Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 03/01/2001 | 09/12/2009 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Yorkshire Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 15/09/1999 | 09/12/2009 | |
| satisfied | Virgin Money Yorkshire Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 27/11/1998 | 09/12/2009 | |
| outstanding | Virgin Money Yorkshire Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 06/11/1998 | — | |
| satisfied | Rank Hovis Rank Hovis Limited | Bulk bin agreement | 1 property | 26/08/1998 | 06/05/2004 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 24/03/1998 | 29/12/1998 | |
| satisfied | NatWest Group Lombard Natwest Discounting Limited | Fixed charge | 1 property | 28/03/1997 | 18/03/1999 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Mortgage debenture | 1 property | 08/07/1994 | 29/12/1998 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (130 total)
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-06-23
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2026-01-30
second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-date
confirmation-statement · RP04CS01
2025-09-16
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2025-09-12
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-09-12
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2025-09-12
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-09-12
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2025-09-12
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-26
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2025-01-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-10-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2024-01-02
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-11-06
accounts-with-accounts-type-group
accounts · AA
2023-01-31
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-12-12