Cardinal Ireland Partners, the Irish private equity growth fund managed by Cardinal Capital Group, has invested in kitchen manufacturer Uform, with plans to scale the business.

Founded in 1993 by Eamon and Paul Donnelly, alongside their late father Eddie, Uform employs 415 people at facilities in Co. Antrim and Co. Donegal.

It delivers more than 1,500 kitchens per week to a customer base throughout the UK and Ireland and, according to Uform, its annual growth rate of 40% over the last three years has continued this year.

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Eamon and Paul Donnelly will remain as “significant” shareholders in the business alongside Cardinal and BGF, a UK-based investment company.

Associate director at Cardinal Capital Group Paul Doody said: “Uform has the potential to scale significantly and become a market leader over the next four years.

“We have looked at many companies in the wider kitchen, bedroom and bathroom space and the quality of the Uform offering, its competitive positioning and the management team stand out as being best in class.

“Uform’s market–leading position in Ireland coupled with a well–established, and fast–growing, presence in the larger, highly fragmented UK market is very attractive to us.”

Alongside Mike Maloney of Cardinal, Paul Doody will join the Uform board

Group CEO of Uform Simon Oliphant commented: “Uform has always had the ambition and the ability to grow.

“We see very considerable opportunity in both the Irish and UK markets. This investment by Cardinal will allow us to realise that potential.”

Co-founders of Uform Eamon and Paul Donnelly added: “We chose to partner with Cardinal based on its knowledge, shared culture, ambition and willingness to invest and support the strategic plan and its excellent track record helping businesses scale.”

The investment by Cardinal will be used to expand Uform’s operating capacity at its 225,000 sq. ft. facility in Toomebridge, Co. Antrim.

It will also be used to bolster Uform’s capability, and capacity in paint-to-order products and increase capacity at Uform’s sister company, Andoras.

Based in Donegal, Andoras produces luxury made-to-order kitchen furniture under the Novelle by Aisling brand.

The transaction is subject to clearance from the Competition Authority.