Harry Ramsden snapped up by rival Deep Blue

Harry Ramsden the historic fish and chip shop has been snapped up by rival Deep Blue Restaurants in a debt free deal.

James Low, founder and chief executive officer of Deep Blue, said: “We are delighted with this transaction which has accelerated our growth, making us the largest player in the market by a considerable margin.

“Our immediate focus will be on the integration of the business into the Deep Blue organisation.

“Our amalgamation with Harry Ramsden’s is a key milestone in our development but we remain committed to exploiting the unparalleled opportunities within the sector for further expansion.”

Tom Crowley, chief executive officer of Boparan Restaurant Group, said: “This is an important strategic move for BRG and one which enables us to simplify our future business and allow us to focus on the opportunities for our core brands of Giraffe, Ed’s Easy Diner, Fishworks and the roll out of Slim Chickens, whilst still retaining an ongoing interest in the fish and chip sector.”