Veterinary service provider Eville & Jones has announced that it has been acquired by testing and compliance company Phenna Group.
Headquartered in Nottingham, UK, Phenna Group is a global provider of testing, inspection, certification, and compliance services. According to a statement on the acquisition, the company's aim is to invest in and partner with selected niche, independent Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC) companies that serve a variety of sectors.
The UK-wide Eville & Jones team of nearly 1,000 employees deliver audit, verification, inspection and compliance services in the fields of animal health, public health, food safety and animal welfare. E&J said it is also the country's largest provider of Export Health Certification services to the private sector, enabling the export of Products of Animal Origin.
Charles Hartwell, CEO of Eville & Jones commented: “My team and I are hugely excited to join Phenna Group. Our business has grown steadily over recent years and I believe with Phenna’s support, that can continue and allow us to expand more rapidly into complimentary services and geographical areas.
"Since our first interaction with Paul and his team, the process has run smoothly and they have acted with great integrity and professionalism throughout. I’m confident in our ambitious future growth strategy and look forward to working with the Phenna Team to deliver it.”
Paul Barry, Group CEO of Phenna Group added: "I am delighted to welcome Charles and his team to Phenna Group. The addition of Eville & Jones really augments our fast growing Food & Health Sciences platform. By headcount, this is our largest deal to date and their experienced team creates a UK wide footprint of experts, that we hope to leverage into new adjacent services into the future.
"E&J provide a critical service to the UK food industry and I’m proud to have them join Phenna Group. I look forward to working with Charles and his team to help them deliver their exciting growth plans.”
Commenting on the acquisition, Kevin Maher, head of animal welfare and delivery assurance at the FSA said: “FSA are supportive of the change to E&J structure. There will be no change to the delivery of official controls nor the staff undertaking duties on behalf of the FSA.”
Nick Allen, CEO of the BMPA, said: "BMPA looks forward to working with the Phenna Group following the acquisition of Eville & Jones. Eville & Jones carry out crucial work in the industry, particularly in relation to animal welfare in abattoirs and Export Health Certification.
"We will watch closely and with interest how this acquisition will impact on our sector. From our perspective the shortage of vets to carry out all the work that is required of them is a major issue at the moment and will be for some time to come and Phenna have come into the sector at a challenging time."
Phenna Group was advised by Avonhurst and RSM. Eville & Jones was advised by Blacks Solicitors, Parsons Chartered Accountants, and Claritas Tax.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
