The launch of Pet Range
Tony says: “Blackburn and its people are very close to my heart. I can class myself as an adopted Lancastrian because I’ve been travelling to Blackburn from my Essex home for more than 30 years.
“Pets Choice has had a long history in Blackburn, with our original Davies brand dating back to 1881, and I’m incredibly proud that Blackburn remains such an important part of our story – there’s nowhere else I’d open our first store.”
Tony honed his negotiating skills at an early age. Failing to gain the A-level grades required and missing out on his first-choice university, he jumped on the phone to convince the head of the economics department to reconsider and duly gained a place at Warwick University.
Those negotiating skills and drive have continued throughout his working life and after
To develop a brand from concept is quite hard
and it takes a lot of investment. We look at brands that are already on their journey
leaving university, he started his own food brokerage business.
Once in control of Pets Choice, he has continued to back himself, taking opportunities and risks, buying its largest competitor, Webbox at the start of his acquisition journey.
Tony’s ambition isn’t showing signs of slowing down. There’s a new state-of-the-art warehouse under construction in Blackburn along with a new factory that will make chocolate products for pets.
Tony, whose son James works in the family’s group of companies, running a successful bakery
Expert View
MARKETS ARE ALL SET FOR STEADY PROGRESS By David Filmer,
Partner and head of corporate, Forbes Solicitors
The outlook for dealmaking in 2026 seems to be characterised by a return to measured confidence after more subdued activity in the previous two years.
Markets are beginning to show signs of stabilisation, particularly in the middle- market; however, dealmakers remain selective and seem to be taking a sharper look towards risk and valuation discipline.
From a legal perspective, one of the defining factors of the current landscape is the regulatory scrutiny. The National Security and Investment Act (NSIA) continues to exert significant influence on transaction planning, particularly its
implications at the term sheet stage where the target touches on the listed areas.
This alone introduces another layer of early- stage structuring and adviser coordination – whether in relation to due diligence processes or timelines generally.
On the financing side, it looks that borrowers are benefitting from the somewhat more favourable debt markets. This in itself has opened the door for more mid-market transactions, especially in sectors such as the technology, renewables and healthcare sectors.
Nevertheless, lenders remain conservative, and buyers look to be increasingly relying
business based in the West Midlands, says: “We very much want to continue as a family business. We want to keep it private and growing.”
The formula, he says is simple and is applied to all his ventures – investing in brands and infrastructure to drive growth.
He says: “I’m geared to do business the traditional way. It took me 10 years to even get any traction, and it is hard work.”
He adds: “Work hard and supply good quality products at reasonable prices. Make a profit and invest that back into the business. That’s how you grow.”
on earn-out mechanisms and deferred consideration to bridge any valuation gaps.
Private equity activity continues to be substantial with funds deploying capital into buy-and-build strategies, as discussed in our previous review.
It seems that UK businesses are also seeing heightened interest from US buyers, likely encouraged by GBP movements and the relative openness of the UK regulatory environment comparatively to other jurisdictions – albeit the NSIA considerations may temper this advantage.
As we progress toward and into 2026, the M&A market appears positioned for steady, sustainable activity. For business owners, these dynamics mean that preparation is key and those planning for an exit in 2026 ought to focus early on tightening corporate governance, clarifying financial reporting and data-risks before going to market.
Well prepared businesses will attract stronger buyer interest and most robust valuations. For advisors, the challenge will persist in holding the ability to combine technical rigour with commercially pragmatic advice.
LANCASHIREBUSINES SV
IEW.CO.UK
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