Founded in 2004 by Jodie and Andrew Howie, Shaken Udder started as a festival-based fresh milkshake brand before entering retail in 2008. Over time, it grew into the UK’s leading premium milkshake brand.
In 2021, LDC invested in the business with buy-side support from Grant Thornton, helping strengthen its supply chain, leadership team, marketing, and distribution channels.
After a successful four-year partnership with LDC - during which Shaken Udder achieved 91% revenue growth, 66% increase in headcount, and outperformed the market - the founders and LDC sought an exit. Recognising our deep expertise in the food and beverage sector, Grant Thornton was appointed to run a competitive auction process.
We invested significant time understanding the brand and its growth story, then designed a bespoke sales process aligned with the key summer trading period, allowing buyers to immerse themselves into the Shaken Udder brand. This drove strong engagement and competitive tension among bidders from across the food, beverage, and dairy industries.
We successfully secured the right home for Shaken Udder - a strategic buyer, Idilia, a family-owned Spanish business behind leading brands such as Colacao and Nocilla (a Nutella competitor in local markets).
This partnership represents an exceptional result for both parties - pairing two family-founded businesses with shared values and a vision to deliver joyful consumer experiences. As a cross-border deal, the transaction also positions Shaken Udder for accelerated international growth under Idilia’s ownership.
How we went beyond
•Tailored process: we did not just run a standard auction; we built a tailored process designed to reach key buyers and maximise engagement
•Sector insight: leveraged our deep food and beverage expertise and industry relationships to identify and attract strategic buyers who understood what our client stood for
•Cultural fit: focused on finding a buyer aligned with Shaken Udder’s ethos
•Exceptional result: going beyond maximising shareholder objectives and securing a long-term growth platform for the brand internationally
