Stevens & Bolton has advised Bunzl plc ("Bunzl"), the specialist international distribution and services group, on its acquisition of Blueleaf Care ("Blueleaf").
Blueleaf is a leading distributor of care and nursing home products, including consumables, cleaning solutions, continence care, equipment, furniture and PPE, supplied primarily to care homes. The business supports more than 5,000 care homes across the UK and generated revenue of £58 million in 2025.
The acquisition represents an exciting new chapter for Blueleaf, which has grown over almost 40 years to support care providers across the UK. Joining Bunzl will provide Blueleaf with access to additional resources and investment while allowing it to maintain its focus on supporting care providers. Blueleaf will continue to operate under the Blueleaf brand, with the same customer focus and commitment to supporting care providers across the UK.
The acquisition further strengthens Bunzl’s position in the UK care home market. The combination of the two businesses is expected to broaden Bunzl's customer proposition and provide opportunities to leverage its scale and capabilities.
Reflecting on the deal, Jenny Robertson, corporate partner at Stevens & Bolton, commented:
"We are delighted to have advised Bunzl on its acquisition of Blueleaf Care. Blueleaf has built a strong position in the UK care sector and its addition to Bunzl represents an exciting opportunity for the business as it enters its next phase of growth. It was a pleasure to work alongside the Bunzl team on the transaction and we look forward to seeing Blueleaf continue to develop as part of the Bunzl group."
Will Ethelson, Senior Corporate Development Executive at Bunzl, commented:
"Stevens & Bolton were a highly effective partner, bringing responsiveness, commerciality and a proactive mindset throughout. They worked as a seamless extension of our team, helped keep the deal moving forward and provided excellent support to deliver a successful outcome."
The Stevens & Bolton team was led by corporate partner Jenny Robertson, with support from corporate associate Himal Bulathsinhala and trainee Stephen Demery. Corporate tax and incentives advice was provided by partner Kate Schmit. By working closely with specialists across the firm, the team was able to deliver coordinated, commercially focused advice throughout the transaction process.
