The six-site coffee chain said the agreement with Gary Conway and a team of local investors would ‘secure the future of the business’ and could see it expand beyond its Yorkshire heartlands
Merrie England has been operated by the Hanselman family for more than 50 years | Photo credit: Merrie England
UK café chain Merrie England, which operates six outlets across Yorkshire, has been acquired by local businessman Gary Conway and a team of investors for an undisclosed sum.
Merrie England, operated by the Hanselman family for more than 50 years, opened one of the UK’s first drive-thru coffee shops in 1980 and said the agreement would ‘secure the future of the business’.
Conway said the Hanselman family has built a ‘reputable brand’ recognised locally for its ‘strong food, coffee and service’. Alongside a value-focused coffee menu, Merrie England also serves an array of cakes, pastries, sandwiches and soups.
The businessman, who co-founded alcoholic beverage group SkinnyBrands in 2015, said he will take Merrie England from ‘strength-to-strength' and expand its footprint beyond the towns of Huddersfield, Halifax and Brighouse.
Yorkshire-based corporate finance firm fds Director Services advised on the deal. Ian and Anne Coumont, directors at Yorkshire-based restaurant Burgers&More, and Adam Sayers are the local investors joining Conway in the deal.