K-Bro Linen has expanded its U.K. footprint through the acquisition of Shortidge in England’s North West region.

Edmonton-based K-Bro announced that it is purchasing Shortridge for C$42.1 million (£24.1 million) on a cash-free, debt-free basis with a further potential earn-out of C$3.4 million (£2.0 million.)

The deal includes the freehold and leasehold real estate for Shortridge’s laundry processing facilities. Shortridge is based in North West England with laundry processing sites in Lillyhall and Dumfries and a distribution centre in Darlington. 

K-Bro plans to retain the Shortridge branding. The existing management team is slated to remain with the business and K-Bro aims to retain the employees across the three sites.

The acquisition offers K-Bro an opportunity to build on its purchase of Fishers Laundry Group in 2017, albeit later than the company intended.

“While our original plans to grow our presence in the UK were interrupted by the Covid pandemic, we have stayed on the alert for further growth opportunities in the U.K.,” said Linda McCurdy, K-Bro’s president and CEO in a news release.

Fishers is a commercial laundry and textile renter provider that serves Scotland and England’s North East region.

Photo: K-Bro Linen