Walsh Mushrooms takes over Golden Mushrooms in Ireland

UK-based Walsh Mushrooms has acquired the business and assets of Irish company Golden Mushrooms.

Both companies have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction.

Walsh Mushrooms is reported to be the second largest mushroom supplier in the UK marketplace, with compost manufacture, mushroom growing, marketing and distribution operations spread across in Ireland and the UK.

Walsh Mushrooms managing director Padraic O’Leary said: “We believe that this acquisition will serve to further strengthen the Walsh Mushrooms Group, building on our recent significant investments in our production and packaging facilities in the UK.

“Golden Mushrooms has grown into a successful business over the last 18 years and we have long admired the production facilities and staff. Their strong commitment to sustainability, with the presence of a biomass facility on site, was key for us and strongly aligns with our group environmental policy”.

The UK-based mushrooms firm currently markets more than 26,000t of mushrooms a year and holds approximately 15% of the total UK mushroom market.

With the acquisition, the total number of employees has raised to 380 across four sites in Ireland and the UK, as well as boosts the group's own annual production capability to 7,280t of mushrooms.

O’Leary added: “The last seven months have certainly been incredibly difficult but we are confident that the sector will overcome the challenge created by Brexit.

“The fact is that mushrooms are the second largest vegetable category in the UK, yet the market is not self-sufficient and needs to import 50% of their mushroom requirement.

“A long-standing, strong relationship exists between the Irish grower and the UK market and we are confident that ultimately the UK will return a more sustainable price for Irish mushrooms, reflecting the new, post-Brexit, foreign exchange rates.”

Established in 1998 by Michael and Marian Bergin, Golden Mushrooms supplies its products to the Irish market.

Upon completion of the transaction, it will trade as Walsh Mushrooms Golden.

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Image: Walsh Mushroom Group acquires and Irish mushroom company. Photo: courtesy of Walsh Mushrooms.