HECK! FOOD LIMITED
📈Growthactive
05169232 · ltd · incorporated 2004-07-02
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
£32.21M
year to Jul 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Processing and preserving of meat
Sector: Manufacturing
ALSO REGISTERED FOR
- 10120SIC 10120
- 10890SIC 10890
- 47220Retail sale of meat and meat products in specialised stores
Investor take
PursueLeverage-led grower with a 68-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (63/100, director aged 68). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. 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 (77/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
12 live charges · 6 lenders · oldest 21.7y
45/100
clean up first
Refinance viable after a tidy-up — address the highlighted items first.
- · Oldest live charge is 21.7 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 6 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 40/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
- · Profitable and stable/growing — lender coverage supportable.
Data confidence
Overall: high (80/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 4 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
12 charges (12/12 with lender, 12/12 with type)
90
Directors & officers
7 officers (4 active, 7 linked, 4 with DOB)
81
Ownership & PSC
2 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
4 connected companies via shared directors
57
Filing history
105 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
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
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 £968,318
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 | £32.21M | — |
| Gross profit | £9.12M | — |
| Operating profit | £1.29M | — |
| Profit before tax | £968.3k | £64.3k |
| Average employees | 11600 | 11200 |
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
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
6
filings
- • 2 capital
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (50 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-17📄capital-cancellation-sharescapital · SH06
- 2026-03-17📄capital-return-purchase-own-sharescapital · SH03
- 2026-03-09📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2026-02-11📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2026-02-03📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2026-02-02➖CAMPBELL, Stephen Alexander resigneddirector
- 2025-05-22📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-05-21🔒Charge registered #12Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2025-04-17📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-04-02📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-06-02📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-05-25🔒Charge registered #11Lender: Rbs Invoice Finance LTD
- 2023-04-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-03-31📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-03-31📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2023-03-30📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-03-30📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-03-30📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-03-30🔓Charge satisfied #8
- 2023-03-30🔓Charge satisfied #7
- 2023-03-30🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2023-03-29📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-03-29🔓Charge satisfied #6
- 2023-03-27🔒Charge registered #10Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2023-03-27🔒Charge registered #9Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2022-04-28📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-03-31📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-02-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-08-15🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2019-08-15🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2016-11-18🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2016-07-29🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Lloyds Bank PLC
- 2015-10-15🔓Charge satisfied #4
- 2015-01-28➕MCDAVID, William Mark appointeddirector
- 2014-09-19🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2014-09-19🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2014-08-01🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2014-07-30🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Barclays Bank PLC
- 2014-05-06➕CAMPBELL, Stephen Alexander appointeddirector
- 2013-10-09🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2013-04-18🔒Charge registered #2Lender: Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) Limited
- 2004-11-18🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Hsbc Bank PLC
- 2004-07-02🏢Company incorporatedAs HECK! FOOD LIMITED
- 2004-07-02➕KEEBLE, Deborah Jane appointedsecretary
- 2004-07-02➕KEEBLE, Andrew Crispin appointeddirector
- 2004-07-02➕KEEBLE, Deborah Jane appointeddirector
- 2004-07-02➕WATERLOW SECRETARIES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2004-07-02➖WATERLOW SECRETARIES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2004-07-02➕WATERLOW NOMINEES LIMITED appointedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2004-07-02➖WATERLOW NOMINEES LIMITED resignedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
83/100
Critical — business is the founderThe business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
FACTORS
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 22 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Founder age: Director aged approximately 68 — 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 63+: Senior director is approximately 68. Approaching typical UK retirement age — succession thinking likely.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 22 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 22 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.
Shareholders & ownership
2 active beneficial owners| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Andrew Crispin Keeble Individual · English · DOB 11/1965 · age 61 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 06/04/2016 |
Mrs Deborah Jane Keeble Individual · English · DOB 11/1965 · age 61 | 25–50% | — | 25-50% shares | 06/04/2016 |
1 historic (ceased) PSC
- Mr Stephen Alexander Campbellceased 31/03/2022· 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
Active · Food & drink · DL postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COFFEE UNITED (BINGLEY) LTD→ 14846766 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| COFFEE UNITED (SKELMERSDALE) LIMITED→ 12021131 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| CURLEW DAIRY COMPANY LTD→ 13793647 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| DEMONIC SPIRITS LIMITED→ 14227162 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| DRII LIMITED→ 10810848 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| DRY BEVERAGES LIMITED→ 10810949 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| FEARNE AND ROSIE LIMITED→ 12318512 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| GELATO TUTTI LTD→ 13981059 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| GEORGE SAMUEL BREWERY LTD→ 12470128 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| GLENFIELD DISTILLERIES LTD→ 15542625 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| HANSOM ICE CREAM LTD→ 16755382 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| HFO ASTRUM LIMITED→ 16466240 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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
Incorporated2004-07-02
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC10110 — Processing and preserving of meat
Registered office
Berry Hills
Kirklington
Bedale
DL8 2NL
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-04-30
Last made up to: 2025-07-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-07-16
Last: 2026-07-02
Officers (4 active · 3 resigned)
KEEBLE, Deborah Jane→
Activesecretary · appointed 2004-07-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
KEEBLE, Andrew Crispin→
Activedirector · ~61y · appointed 2004-07-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
KEEBLE, Deborah Jane→
Activedirector · ~61y · appointed 2004-07-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
MCDAVID, William Mark→
Activedirector · ~68y · appointed 2015-01-28
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WATERLOW SECRETARIES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2004-07-02 · resigned 2004-07-02
CAMPBELL, Stephen Alexander→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2014-05-06 · resigned 2026-02-02
WATERLOW NOMINEES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2004-07-02 · resigned 2004-07-02
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
12
Total charges
4
Outstanding
2
Active lenders
Status:Lender:12 of 12 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 21/05/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | NatWest Group Rbs Invoice Finance LTD | A registered charge | — | 25/05/2023 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 27/03/2023 | — | |
| outstanding | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | 4 properties | 27/03/2023 | — | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 2 properties | 15/08/2019 | 30/03/2023 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 15/08/2019 | 30/03/2023 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 18/11/2016 | 29/03/2023 | |
| satisfied | Lloyds Banking Group Lloyds Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 29/07/2016 | 30/03/2023 | |
| satisfied | Barclays Barclays Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 30/07/2014 | 15/10/2015 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 09/10/2013 | 19/09/2014 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Invoice Finance (UK) Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 18/04/2013 | 19/09/2014 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 18/11/2004 | 01/08/2014 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (105 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-07-15
capital-cancellation-shares
capital · SH06
2026-03-17
capital-return-purchase-own-shares
capital · SH03
2026-03-17
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2026-03-09
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2026-02-11
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2026-02-03
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-07
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-05-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2025-04-17
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-07-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2024-04-02
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-03
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-06-02
accounts-with-accounts-type-full
accounts · AA
2023-04-28
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2023-03-31