Rowse Honey, the Wallingford-based honey supplier, has been acquired by Wellness Foods for an estimated £70m. Managing Director Stuart Bailey will stay with the business, as will all 122 employees. Rowse Honey sells a range of speciality, organic and squeezable honey under its own label, and also provides own-brand honey to supermarkets. The companies would not confirm the value of the transaction but it is widely believed to be between £70 and £79m. London law firms Howard Kennedy and Manches advised on the deal. Wellness also acquired Orchard House Foods, the Corby-based producer of freshly squeezed juice, fresh fruit and smoothies, in December last year.
