Cambridge Weight Plan (CWP) and Cambridge Manufacturing Company Limited (CMC) were up until 2005 owned by The Howard Foundation - a charitable trust established by Dr Alan Howard in 1982. The aims of the Foundation is to provide funding for biomedical research in the fields of obesity, nutrition and key areas of health.

Further aims include the funding, construction and maintenance of buildings at Downing College, Cambridge University, and the establishment of scholarships for international students.

At the beginning of 2005, Dr Howard made the decision that he wished to pursue other charitable and business interests and expressed the desire to sell CMC. He felt that the best way forward for the company and the Cambridge Weight Plan brand was for it to be offered to the current senior team through a management buyout.
 

Negotiations were completed in September 2005 and Cambridge Nutritional Foods Ltd, a new company wholly owned by the three managers of CMC (Eileen Skinner, Rob Thompson and John White - who between them have worked within the group for more than 50 years!) acquired the share capital of CMC, together with the trademarks and intellectual property relating to the Cambridge Weight Plan brand.

Cambridge Weight Plan is a trading division of CMC and sells and markets the Cambridge Weight Plan in the UK.

Cambridge Manufacturing Company Limited manufactures and distributes the Cambridge Weight Plan around the world and is based (along with CWP) in Corby, Northamptonshire, England.
 

 
Pictured: Eileen Skinner and Dr Alan Howard