French dairy dessert producer Senoble has acquired Elizabeth the Chef (EtC), a British producer of fresh desserts and cakes.

EtC has four production sites, all in the Birmingham area, and it employs about 1,000 staff. It is currently the second biggest producer of fresh desserts and cakes in the UK.

The acquisition confirms Senoble’s intentions to expand outside France. The group, which is 75% family-owned, is already present on the French and Spanish markets. It hopes to record 60% of its turnover from its operations in Spain and the UK by 2008.