Uform
Specialist Manufacturing • Northern Ireland • Growth
Company
information
Investment date
Jan 2019 - Oct 2022
Head office
Antrim
“BGF fitted our culture. They came in with a different set of values to other investors we met with, and there was an energy about them. Since they came on board, we have built a top team that’s second to none.”
CEO of Uform
BGF & Uform
In 2019, we completed a multi-million-pound investment into Northern Irish manufacturing business Uform. Alongside our investment, we introduced Uform to its non-executive chair, Jim Meredith. As the former CEO of Waste Recycling Group and non-executive chair for Augean, Jim was well placed to guide the business through the next phase of its growth.
BGF funding enabled Uform to open two new production facilities, invest in recruitment and training, and expand its product range. We supported Uform’s continued expansion in the UK and Irish markets. Uform was able to double the size of its operation as a result, delivering more than 1,500 kitchens each week to a growing customer base, which led to an impressive growth of 40% year-on-year.
In 2022, Irish private equity firm Cardinal Ireland Partners acquired a share of Uform. This saw us exit our original investment, generating a return of more than 2x in just three years, with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 25%. Following the deal, we reinvested in Uform and are continuing to support the business.