Red Sky Group has acquired UK sausage manufacturer Delenco Foods, marking the second major investment for the business following its creation in April 2025.
Red Sky Group was established as a joint venture between Literacy Capital and Mark Chantler, former CEO and chairman of Meadow Foods, with a strategy to acquire and scale high-quality, protein-focused meat manufacturing businesses. Its inaugural investment was made in Langford’s, a manufacturer of individually quick frozen (IQF) sausages, burgers and meatballs.
Founded in 1963, Delenco Foods grew from an East London butcher into a producer serving cruise lines, schools, retailers, catering butchers and wider foodservice customers.
The combined Red Sky portfolio – Langford’s and Delenco – will comprise approximately £35 million in revenues, a 120-strong workforce and two manufacturing sites in Welshpool, Wales, and Leyton, East London.
The acquisition brings together two established, family-run businesses that Red Sky said are “known for their product quality and customer service”. With complementary product ranges and geographic reach, the enlarged group will aim to offer an expanded service proposition to both existing and new customers.
Delenco’s founder will remain involved in the business to support the transition, while managing director Josh Gethin will assume leadership across both Delenco and Langford’s. Both businesses will continue to trade under their existing brands.
Red Sky recently completed a refinancing of its debt facilities with Triple Point, which it said would strengthen its ability to pursue further strategic acquisitions. The business has also appointed Jon Faasse as chief financial officer, with Faasse to bring experience from senior finance roles across private equity-backed and FTSE 250 companies, including as group treasurer at Travis Perkins Plc.
Mark Chantler, executive chairman of Red Sky Food Group, commented: “Delenco is a highly complementary addition to Langford’s, and we are delighted to welcome the team into the Red Sky Food Group. Richard and Jane Barber have spent their careers building an outstanding business, and we are committed to continuing Delenco’s success, while adding other high-quality meat manufacturing businesses to Red Sky.”
