Clearwater International advises Airedale Catering Equipment Group on its majority sale to Rubicon Partners

Clearwater International has advised Airedale Catering Equipment Group Ltd (Airedale), the UK market leader in services to the commercial kitchen and catering market, on its majority sale to Rubicon Partners (Rubicon).

Based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Airedale provides a fully integrated end-to-end solution including design, supply, manufacture and installation of professional kitchens and maintenance services.

Airedale was established by Peter Bywell and John Rhodes in 1985. In 2013, Rob Bywell led a management buyout with the support of Rockpool Investments (Rockpool). The business has expanded rapidly over the last seven years, including through the acquisition of two service businesses which today make it the UK’s largest independent service provider to the professional kitchen market with over 200 engineers.

Rob and his team will remain as shareholders in the business in their existing executive capacities, while Rockpool and some minority shareholders will be selling all of their shares. Rubicon will work with Rob and the management team in a close partnership to develop and grow the capabilities of the business further, with a particular focus on expanding adjacent product and sector service offering, exploiting technology in support of service offering and starting an international expansion.