New era dawns for Melton pet food maker after sale

One of Town & Country's dog food products.

The family owned Town & Country Petfoods, based in a former stables in Asfordby Road, has been acquired by Assisi Pet Care for an undisclosed sum.

Town and Country was created in 1974 by the Parkinson family and currently employs 26 staff and sells a range of dog and cat foods and treats, largely under the popular HiLife brand as well as providing own label products to many leading supermarkets and pet care retailers.

The acquisition of Town & Country will create a £35 million turnover business and broaden Skipton-based Assisi’s offer into dog foods as well as into the cat foods and treats

Tony Parkinson, Town & Country’s managing director, said: “As a family, we are very pleased that our brand and our Melton Mowbray team will be playing such a pivotal role in Assisi’s exciting and ambitious plans.

“The high quality of product and service that pet owners and trade customers have come to expect from HiLife will be the benchmark for the expanding business.

“We believe that the creation of this larger business will bring a fresh, much needed presence in what remains one of the most satisfying markets in which to operate.”

Peter Mangion, chief executive of Assisi, said; “We are very grateful to the Parkinson family for partnering with Assisi and for trusting us to help take the Town & Country business and its successful HiLife brand to the next phase of its development.

“I am personally delighted that family members Tony and Peter Parkinson, and their sister, Julie Bitowt, have agreed to remain with the company as we integrate our existing sales, marketing, finance and operations functions, into the well-established Town & Country teams based at Melton Mowbray.

He added: “Having completed our first acquisition just five months ago, Assisi’s rapid growth trajectory is on track and we are grateful for the continued support of Harwood as we move, with pace, to deliver on our ambitious strategy to become a leader in the European pet care sector. “This transformational deal has created a £35 million turnover business which is well-placed to offer a huge array of products to the rapidly expanding pet care market.”

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