Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · FoodTech in United Kingdom.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 278 verified exits: 25% to sponsors, 64% to corporates and platforms, 9% via IPO, 2% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 21% (was 30%), corporates and platforms 71% (was 57%), IPO 6% (was 11%).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 13 geographic expansion candidates without a local platform yet. A first round of the Tier 1 names plus the expansion buyers covers the demonstrated demand.
Financial buyers · 25
Tier 1 · Very High · score 70+
1. PAI Partners SponsorVery High83
58 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 15 in United Kingdom · 26 deals 2024–26
AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying
12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.
Backed Refresco, 2018 · FoodTech, Netherlands
2. Riello Investimenti SGR SponsorVery High83
10 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €250M · Buy&Build Opportunities - Private Equity IV · 2025 vintage · deploying
Accelerating: 7 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.5/yr before.
Backed Foreverland, 2026 · FoodTech, Italy
3. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High80
36 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 16 in United Kingdom · 39 deals 2024–26
Waterland Private Equity Fund IX (WPEF IX) · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €70-525M
48 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 19 per fund.
Backed Umami, 2024 · FoodTech, Belgium
4. Vitruvian Partners SponsorVery High79
26 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 37 in United Kingdom · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €18.0B · Vitruvian Investment Partnership V · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €146M-1.1B
20 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Bought Great Rail Journeys from Duke Street, 2025 · Hospitality, UK
5. Bpifrance Investissement SponsorVery High78
13 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 35 deals 2024–26
AUM €57.3B · Bpifrance Amorçage Industriel · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €1-8M
Accelerating: 30 deals in the last 2 years vs 4.5/yr before.
Backed Belambra, 2026 · Hospitality, France
6. Finorpa Gestion SponsorVery High78
30 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 27 deals 2024–26
Hauts-de-France Avenir TPE PME · 2026 vintage · deploying
8 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 28 per fund.
Backed Nutriearth, 2024 · FoodTech, France
7. EXTENDAM and Amante Capital SponsorVery High78
31 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 22 deals 2024–26
AUM €5.1B · FPCI Experimental Hotels Collection · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €3-23M
Accelerating: 15 deals in the last 2 years vs 3.3/yr before.
Backed Ayre Hoteles, 2026 · Hospitality, Spain
8. Extendam SponsorVery High78
30 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 21 deals 2024–26
AUM €5.1B · FPCI Experimental Hotels Collection · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €3-23M
Accelerating: 14 deals in the last 2 years vs 3.3/yr before.
Bought Ayre Hoteles from Eurazeo, 2026 · Hospitality, Spain
9. Extendam, Amante Capital SponsorVery High78
30 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 21 deals 2024–26
AUM €5.1B · FPCI Experimental Hotels Collection · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €3-23M
Accelerating: 14 deals in the last 2 years vs 3.3/yr before.
Backed Ayre Hoteles, 2026 · Hospitality, Spain
10. EQT SponsorVery High77
28 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 16 in United Kingdom · 51 deals 2024–26
AUM €291.0B · EQT X · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €440M-3.3B
53 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 11 per fund.
Backed Oterra, 2021 · FoodTech, Denmark
11. PAI Partners (Fund VIII) SponsorVery High77
43 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 14 in United Kingdom · 17 deals 2024–26
AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying
12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.
Backed Refresco, 2018 · FoodTech, Netherlands
12. PAI Partners (Mid-Market Fund) SponsorVery High77
43 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 15 in United Kingdom · 16 deals 2024–26
AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying
12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.
Backed Refresco, 2018 · FoodTech, Netherlands
13. PAI Partners (Mid-Market) SponsorVery High77
44 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 14 in United Kingdom · 16 deals 2024–26
AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying
12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.
Backed Refresco, 2018 · FoodTech, Netherlands
14. PAI Partners / ADIA SponsorVery High77
43 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 14 in United Kingdom · 17 deals 2024–26
AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying
12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.
Backed Refresco, 2018 · FoodTech, Netherlands
15. PAI Partners and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan SponsorVery High77
43 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 14 in United Kingdom · 16 deals 2024–26
AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying
12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.
Backed Refresco, 2018 · FoodTech, Netherlands
16. Quadrivio Group SponsorVery High77
22 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 1 in United Kingdom · 14 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.0B · Artificial Intelligence PE Fund · 2025 vintage · deploying
6 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 6 per fund.
Backed Alice Pizza, 2026 · Hospitality, Italy
17. TDR Capital Titan (continuation vehicle) SponsorVery High77
15 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 22 in United Kingdom · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €15.0B · TDR Capital Titan · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €20-147M
3 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 4 per fund.
Bought David Lloyd Leisure from TDR Capital, 2025 · Hospitality, UK
18. TDR Capital SponsorVery High76
17 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 23 in United Kingdom · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €15.0B · TDR Capital Titan · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €20-147M
3 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 4 per fund.
Backed David Lloyd Leisure, 2025 · Hospitality, UK
19. Apax Partners SponsorVery High75
15 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 15 in United Kingdom · 21 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Yad2, 2025 · E-commerce, Israel
20. Apax Partners (with NewAlpha) SponsorVery High75
12 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 14 in United Kingdom · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Yad2, 2025 · E-commerce, Israel
21. Apax Partners and Inova Capital SponsorVery High75
12 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 14 in United Kingdom · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Yad2, 2025 · E-commerce, Israel
22. Apax Partners and JMI Equity SponsorVery High75
12 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 14 in United Kingdom · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Yad2, 2025 · E-commerce, Israel
23. Apax Partners SAS SponsorVery High75
12 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 14 in United Kingdom · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Yad2, 2025 · E-commerce, Israel
24. Axio Capital / Siparex Intermezzo SponsorVery High75
11 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 1 in United Kingdom · 12 deals 2024–26
AUM €80M · Together (TGT) · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €1-9M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 11 per fund.
Bought Asia Voyages from NCI, 2026 · Hospitality, France
25. Axio Capital / Siparex Intermezzo 3 SponsorVery High75
11 platform investments in Consumer & Retail · 1 in United Kingdom · 12 deals 2024–26
AUM €80M · Together (TGT) · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €1-9M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 11 per fund.
Bought Asia Voyages from Adaxtra Capital, 2026 · Consumer, France
Scores and facts derive from verified deal records only; sample floors and thresholds are published on the methodology page. Figures marked with a tilde are bands, not disclosures.