Addleshaw Goddard has advised the largest importer of American food products in Europe, Innovative Bites, on its acquisition of Hancocks, one of the UK’s leading confectionery specialists, from H2 Equity Partners and management.

The deal, which completed today, is the second major acquisition by Innovative Bites in the last 12 months, with the combined group selling to over 40,000 customers and offering more than 7,000 confectionery products.

The transaction was delivered by a cross-disciplinary team led by banking partner Laurie Keel and corporate partners Andrew Rosling and William James. They were supported by Legal Director Geoff Yates, Managing Associate Sophie Old and associates Tim Trueman, Laura Moss and Angus Hortop.

Relationship partner Laurie Keel commented: "It was a pleasure to advise on what is a transformational transaction for both Innovative Bites and Hancocks. The deal involved working closely with the impressive and entrepreneurial management teams of both our client and the target, and gave us at Addleshaws the opportunity to showcase once again our retail and consumer / wholesale expertise, as well as our ability to mobilise an integrated, multi-disciplinary team to drive a complex transaction to a successful conclusion. Together the businesses represent a unique proposition in the confectionery category and we are proud to have played a part in that."