BUCKLEY FOODS LIMITED
📈Growthactive
04517233 · ltd · incorporated 2002-08-22
Investment thesis
Growth-phase business — story-led; valuation sensitive to momentum.
Why interesting: Trading is scaling; acquirers paying for trajectory get disproportionate leverage.
Why risky: Price often leads fundamentals; dependency on founder often high.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
£39.70M
year to Jul 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 10612
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueConservative operator with a 80-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (73/100, director aged 80). 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: strategic trade sale (78/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
6 live charges · 5 lenders · oldest 23.4y
45/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 23.4 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 5 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 30/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
- · Profitable and stable/growing — lender coverage supportable.
Data confidence
Overall: high (83/100)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
6 charges (6/6 with lender, 6/6 with type)
90
Directors & officers
15 officers (5 active, 15 linked, 9 with DOB)
82
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
20 connected companies via shared directors
90
Filing history
108 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
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.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · FRS 102Profitable
Profit before tax £170,763
Strong revenue growth
Turnover up 26% YoY
Turnover YoY
+26%
Year on 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 | 2025-07-31 | 2024-07-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £39.70M | £31.56M |
| Gross profit | £8.06M | £5.96M |
| Operating profit | £170.8k | £121.4k |
| Profit before tax | £170.8k | £121.4k |
| Average employees | 9600 | 8800 |
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
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (56 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-16📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-04-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-09-17📄second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-dateconfirmation-statement · RP04CS01
- 2024-04-30📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-04-30📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2024-04-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-04-27➕COOKSON, Mark Thomas appointedsecretary
- 2023-04-27➕COOKSON, Mark Thomas appointeddirector
- 2023-04-27➖MELLOR, Peter Matthew resignedsecretary
- 2023-04-27➖MELLOR, Peter Matthew resigneddirector
- 2023-04-27📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2023-04-27📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2023-04-27📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2023-04-27📄appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP03
- 2023-04-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-04-25📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-04-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2020-08-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-08-14📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2020-04-08📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-06-28➕LEA, James John appointeddirector
- 2019-06-28➕MELLOR, Peter Matthew appointeddirector
- 2019-06-28➖WARR, David resigneddirector
- 2019-06-28📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2019-06-28📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2018-12-01➕MELLOR, Peter Matthew appointedsecretary
- 2018-12-01➖WARR, David resignedsecretary
- 2005-11-01➕WARR, David appointeddirector
- 2005-02-01➕GASKILL, Francis Patrick appointeddirector
- 2004-05-15🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2004-05-15🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2004-05-15🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2004-05-15🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2004-05-15🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2004-05-15🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2004-05-07➕LEA, John Edward appointeddirector
- 2004-05-07➖GASKILL, Francis Patrick resignedsecretary
- 2004-05-07➕WARR, David appointedsecretary
- 2004-05-07➖BAXTER, Jamie Alexander resigneddirector
- 2004-05-07➖GASKILL, Francis Patrick resigneddirector
- 2004-05-07➖PICKLES, Geoffrey Michael, Dr resigneddirector
- 2003-08-11🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Close Invoice Finance Limited
- 2003-08-11🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Close Invoice Finance Limited
- 2003-04-25🔒Charge registered #4Lender: State Securities PLC
- 2003-01-15🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Ray Blakley
- 2003-01-15🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Geoffrey Michael Pickles
- 2003-01-15🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Peter John Jones
- 2003-01-06➕BAXTER, Jamie Alexander appointeddirector
- 2002-08-23➕GASKILL, Francis Patrick appointedsecretary
- 2002-08-23➖HARRISON, Irene Lesley resignednominee-secretary
Showing most recent 50 of 56 events
Owner dependency
65/100
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 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 80 — succession pressure is live.
Succession & seller-readiness
90/100
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 80 years old. Natural succession window is now.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 22 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 24 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
- 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.
Group structure
Agri Food Holdings Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
Agri Food Holdings Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
BUCKLEY FOODS LIMITED
This company · 04517233
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Agri Food Holdings Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 05/04/2024 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Morning Foods Limitedceased 05/04/2024· 75-100% 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
Active · Food & drink · CW postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCL BLENDING LTD→ 15678710 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CHESHIRE CREAMERIES LTD→ 03739926 · est 1999 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 27y | — | — |
| COLABS INNOVATIONS LTD→ 16683112 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| DAIRYGOLD HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED→ 02878864 · est 1993 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 32y | — | — |
| DUDA COFFEE LIMITED→ 15777320 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| EDGE DISTILLERS LIMITED→ 16693560 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ELITE EATS (NW) LTD→ 16103424 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ES GLOBAL INVESTMENTS LTD→ 12719577 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| EVOCORE INNOVATIONS LIMITED→ 16735133 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| FLOW BEVERAGES LTD→ 15718032 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| FOOD FOR THOUGHT BAKERY LIMITED→ 03916413 · est 2000 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 26y | — | — |
| FOR THE LOVE OF LIMITED→ 09808553 · est 2015 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 10y | — | — |
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
Incorporated2002-08-22
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC10612 — SIC 10612
Registered office
Morning Foods Limited
North Western Mills Gresty Road
Crewe
Cheshire
CW2 6HP
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-04-30
Last made up to: 2025-07-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-28
Last: 2025-08-14
Officers (5 active · 10 resigned)
COOKSON, Mark Thomas→
Activesecretary · appointed 2023-04-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
COOKSON, Mark Thomas→
Activedirector · ~44y · appointed 2023-04-27
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GASKILL, Francis Patrick→
Activedirector · ~76y · appointed 2005-02-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LEA, James John→
Activedirector · ~46y · appointed 2019-06-28
View their other companies + combined net worth →
LEA, John Edward→
Activedirector · ~80y · appointed 2004-05-07
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GASKILL, Francis Patrick→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-08-23 · resigned 2004-05-07
HARRISON, Irene Lesley→
Resignednominee-secretary · appointed 2002-08-22 · resigned 2002-08-23
MELLOR, Peter Matthew→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2018-12-01 · resigned 2023-04-27
WARR, David→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2004-05-07 · resigned 2018-12-01
BAXTER, Jamie Alexander→
Resigneddirector · ~64y · appointed 2003-01-06 · resigned 2004-05-07
GASKILL, Francis Patrick→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 2002-08-23 · resigned 2004-05-07
MELLOR, Peter Matthew→
Resigneddirector · ~48y · appointed 2019-06-28 · resigned 2023-04-27
PICKLES, Geoffrey Michael, Dr→
Resigneddirector · ~76y · appointed 2002-08-23 · resigned 2004-05-07
WARR, David→
Resigneddirector · ~74y · appointed 2005-11-01 · resigned 2019-06-28
BUSINESS INFORMATION RESEARCH & REPORTING LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2002-08-22 · resigned 2002-08-23
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
6
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:6 of 6 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | Close Invoice Finance Close Invoice Finance Limited | Fixed charge over book debts | 1 property | 11/08/2003 | 15/05/2004 | |
| satisfied | Close Invoice Finance Close Invoice Finance Limited | All assets debenture | 1 property | 11/08/2003 | 15/05/2004 | |
| satisfied | State Securities State Securities PLC | Chattel mortgage | 1 property | 25/04/2003 | 15/05/2004 | |
| satisfied | Ray Blakley | Debenture | 1 property | 15/01/2003 | 15/05/2004 | |
| satisfied | Geoffrey Michael Pickles | Debenture | 1 property | 15/01/2003 | 15/05/2004 | |
| satisfied | Peter John Jones | Debenture | 1 property | 15/01/2003 | 15/05/2004 |
Recent filings (108 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-04-16
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-27
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-04-11
second-filing-of-confirmation-statement-with-made-up-date
confirmation-statement · RP04CS01
2024-09-17
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-27
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-04-30
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2024-04-30
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-04-25
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-08-21
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2023-04-27
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2023-04-27
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2023-04-27
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2023-04-27
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-04-17
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-08-15