Cold storage venture Wild Water acquired in a multi-million-pound deal

Temperature controlled storage and distribution venture serving the food and drink sector, Wild Water Group, has been acquired in a multi-million-pound deal.

The Cardiff headquartered business, which has a network of cold storage facilities across South Wales and the west of England has been acquired by real estate investment company Delancey.

The business was set by Ken Rattenbury in 2012. Under his leadership it has expanded to eight cold storage sites located in Cardiff, Merthyr, Aberbargoed, Newport, Avonmouth, Plymouth, Southampton and Taunton.

The business also had a division providing ambient, chilled and frozen distribution of food including meat and fish products, as well as pharmaceutical and specialist packaging materials.

The acquisition, the exact value of which has not been disclosed, comes after Wild Water reported strong trading in 2023.

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Mr Rattenbury said: “We are delighted to have found a partner in Delancey with the experience and capability to support Wild Water’s business growth opportunities to become a UK leading temperature-controlled distribution operation. I and fellow employees look forward to assisting Delancey enhance our customer offering on this next phase of the group’s strategic expansion.”

Wild Water’s shareholders were advised by Cardiff-based Gambit Corporate Finance and Acuity Law.

Frank Holmes, partner at Gambit, said: “This is a unique Welsh business which has extended its geographic reach to service local and UK wide customers across a variety of sectors, with huge growth prospects. We wish Delancey, Ken and his team at Wild Water huge success on this journey.”