A.J. PIES AND PASTRIES LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
07620925 · ltd · incorporated 2011-05-04
Investment thesis
Well-run mature business — low negotiation leverage; premium likely.
Why interesting: Textbook target; clean filings, stable trading.
Why risky: No pressure on seller; any deal likely at full price.
Opportunity decay
hardening · 12-months
Already tight — no obvious softening catalysts on the horizon.
- · Thesis: well-run, low negotiation leverage
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Apr 2025
Net worth
£1.64M
book net assets
Opportunity
83/100
Exceptional
What this business does
Primary activity: SIC 10890
Sector: Manufacturing
Investor take
PursueAsset-holding vehicle with a 62-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 83/100 (exceptional), bankability 85/100. Strong seller-intent signal (80/100, director aged 62). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
2 live charges · 2 lenders · oldest 15.2y
30/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 15.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · Two lenders — manageable, but coordination required.
- · Cashflow trend is negative — lender view likely cautious.
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
2 charges (2/2 with lender, 2/2 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (2 active, 6 linked, 6 with DOB)
90
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 5 total, 5 with control declared
90
Director network
2 connected companies via shared directors
51
Filing history
63 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
83/100Exceptional
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
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £1,641,572
Cash YoY
-18%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£171k
↓ 18% YoY
Net Worth
£1.6m
↑ 2.4% YoY
Current Assets
£2.1m
↑ 2.1% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-04-30 | 2024-04-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £1.79M | £1.74M |
| Current assets | £2.14M | £2.10M |
| Cash | £171.5k | £208.7k |
| Debtors | £1.71M | £1.62M |
| Net assets | £1.64M | £1.60M |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (34 events)Click to expand
- 2025-10-13📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2024-10-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2024-03-18📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2024-02-22📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2023-10-11📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2023-05-01📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2023-04-28📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2022-09-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-10-15📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2021-04-21📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2021-03-22📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2021-02-24➕WADSWORTH, Alan appointeddirector
- 2021-02-24➖ALLAN, Dave resigneddirector
- 2021-02-24➖KINGDON, Matthew resigneddirector
- 2021-02-24➖RISSO-GILL, Pamela Ruth resigneddirector
- 2021-02-24📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2021-02-24📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-02-24📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2021-02-24📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2021-02-24📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-02-24📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2021-02-24📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2020-09-14📄accounts-with-accounts-type-smallaccounts · AA
- 2017-11-08🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2017-11-08🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2016-11-07➕ALLAN, Dave appointeddirector
- 2016-11-07➕KINGDON, Matthew appointeddirector
- 2016-11-07➕RISSO-GILL, Pamela Ruth appointeddirector
- 2012-07-23➖RUDDIFORTH, Jason Alan resigneddirector
- 2012-06-11🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2011-05-20➕RUDDIFORTH, Jason Alan appointeddirector
- 2011-05-18🔒Charge registered #1Lender: The Little Big Food Company Limited (The Secured Party)
- 2011-05-04🏢Company incorporatedAs A.J. PIES AND PASTRIES LIMITED
- 2011-05-04➕RISSO-GILL, Anthony James appointeddirector
Owner dependency
76/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 15 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 62 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
69/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 62. Early succession window.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- secondary12+ year tenure: Director in role 15 years.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 15 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
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Group structure
A.J. Pies & Pastries (Holdings) Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
A.J. Pies & Pastries (Holdings) Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares · board control
⬇
A.J. PIES AND PASTRIES LIMITED
This company · 07620925
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A.J. Pies & Pastries (Holdings) Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 26/02/2021 |
4 historic (ceased) PSCs
- A.J. Pies And Pastries (Holdings) Limitedceased 26/02/2021· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting
- Mr Anthony James Risso-Gillceased 24/02/2021· 50-75% shares · 50-75% voting
- Mr Anthony James Risso-Gillceased 24/02/2021· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- The Little Big Food Companyceased 02/02/2017· 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 · HD postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B WHITE BAKERY LTD→ 16460794 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BEDALES OF YORKSHIRE LIMITED→ 13296365 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| BIG RUDE FOOD LTD→ 12893013 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| BOLD BAKING CO LTD→ 16327515 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| BOLD OATS CO LTD→ 16324536 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| CAKE BAKERY LTD→ 11119855 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| DANELAW COFFEE ROASTING LTD→ 13994931 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| DISTILL8 LIMITED→ 06937907 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| DVF PRODUCTS LIMITED→ 09211251 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 11y | — | — |
| EDEN GARDEN FOODS LIMITED→ 12540279 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| EDGEHILL EMPIRE LTD→ 16255756 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| EMPIRE BREWING LTD→ 08468352 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
6 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
Incorporated2011-05-04
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC10890 — SIC 10890
Registered office
Unit 2 - 4 Queens Mill Industrial Estate Units 2 - 4 Queens Mill Industrial Estate
Queens Mill Road, Lockwood
Huddersfield
HD1 3RR
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-01-31
Last made up to: 2025-04-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-05-12
Last: 2026-04-28
Officers (2 active · 4 resigned)
RISSO-GILL, Anthony James→
Activedirector · ~62y · appointed 2011-05-04
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WADSWORTH, Alan→
Activedirector · ~58y · appointed 2021-02-24
View their other companies + combined net worth →
ALLAN, Dave→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2016-11-07 · resigned 2021-02-24
KINGDON, Matthew→
Resigneddirector · ~63y · appointed 2016-11-07 · resigned 2021-02-24
RISSO-GILL, Pamela Ruth→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2016-11-07 · resigned 2021-02-24
RUDDIFORTH, Jason Alan→
Resigneddirector · ~57y · appointed 2011-05-20 · resigned 2012-07-23
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
2
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:2 of 2 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 11/06/2012 | 08/11/2017 | |
| satisfied | The Little Big Food Company (The Secured Party) The Little Big Food Company Limited (The Secured Party) | Debenture | 2 properties | 18/05/2011 | 08/11/2017 |
Recent filings (63 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-04-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2025-10-13
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-05-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2024-10-14
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-05-09
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2024-03-18
change-person-director-company-with-change-date
officers · CH01
2024-02-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2023-10-11
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2023-05-01
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC02
2023-04-28
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-04-28
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2022-09-22
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-05-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-small
accounts · AA
2021-10-15
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-04-29