Fran Lebowitz once remarked that vegetables are interesting, but lack any sense of purpose without a good cut of meat.

In culinary terms, the US writer probably had a point. But in M&A circles it is becoming clear that deal makers don’t need a steak on the side to make a tasty transaction.

Ask the team at Geest plc, a Midgate-based fruit and vegetable wholesaler snapped up for £391 million by Icelandic food group Bakkavör last year. The deal was completed only a few weeks after Geest itself bought G’s Marketing Ltd’s salads business.

Andrew Roberts, a partner at Grant Thornton Corporate Finance, believes the fruit and veg sector is one to watch this year.

“Despite a string of packaging company failures and some takeovers in recent years, the supply base in this sector remains very fragmented,” Roberts said. “The multiple retailers have continued to put pressure on suppliers both to rationalise the supply base and to improve their standards of value-adding service.

“As a result, many companies are in a precarious profit position and are facing additional pricing pressures from cheaper overseas operators to match consumers’ demands for seasonal produce all year round. We therefore anticipate a significant number of mergers between smaller suppliers and their larger rivals, as well as a number of company failures over the next couple of years.”