Fri, 03 Jul 2026 | BUSINESS SALE
A food processing manufacturer based in Bradford has been acquired by a US group. Through the acquisition, Deighton Manufacturing Limited becomes Fortifi Food Processing Solutions’ fourth brand with a UK presence, joining Frontmatec, Provisur and Wyma.
The acquisition, which has now completed after a definitive agreement was signed in April, includes production capabilities across the protein, dairy, bakery and fish sectors for a wide range of global food processors.
Deighton Manufacturing provides continuous and batch processing equipment used in the manufacture of an array of consumer products, including burgers, appetisers, vegetables, cookies, nuggets and international foods.
The company has a broad customer base of food processing businesses, with strong geographic coverage across the UK and Europe, in addition to growth markets in South East Asia, India and Latin America.
Post-acquisition Deighton Manufacturing’s employees will join Fortifi's broad-based ownership programme, providing all employees with the opportunity to participate in equity ownership.
Fortifi Chief Executive Massimo Bizzi said that the acquisition expands the group’s capabilities across “modular, flexible and lower-throughput applications, broadening our reach to a wider range of food processors while complementing our expertise in large-scale processing.”
He continued: "Together with Nothum Food Processing Systems and Provisur Technologies, we now offer forming, coating and thermal processing solutions across virtually every production environment."
Fortifi Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development Mark Dowdle added that the deal strengthens the group’s presence in the UK and Europe and brings in “a highly accessible product portfolio that aligns well with the needs of growth markets in Latin America, India and Southeast Asia.”
Dowdle added: "The acquisition expands our ability to support food processors across a broader range of production environments while accelerating our growth strategy in emerging markets."
Automation has emerged as a major M&A driver in the UK manufacturing sector
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