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Graham Roach, chief executive of Flagship Foods, says the acquisition is of significant importance to the pigmeat sector. “The decline of British pig numbers is forcing further rationalisation within primary processing to retain the advantages of economies of scale,“ he comments. The Glanbia operation will be renamed Flagship Fresh Meats.

The Flagship Foods group has a turnover of more than 3400m and a total workforce of 3,200. The group comprises Dalehead Foods Ltd, a leading supplier of pork and lamb to major supermarkets and pigmeat to manufacturers, and Roach Foods Ltd, which produces a wide range of bacon and cooked meat products for the retail and foodservice sector. Dalehead also has extensive pig farming interests through its subsidiary BQP, which operates mainly in East Anglia. The company’s farms supply about 30 per cent of pigs required for processing.

Mr Roach says Dalehead and Roach Foods are market leaders on issues of food safety, product consistency and traceability. “We believe these are critical factors in a climate of retail supply chain rationalisation and the increasing demand for full traceability of food from farm to plate.“

Glanbia Fresh Meats (UK) Limited operates from two manufacturing sites in the West Midlands. It produces fresh pork products for supermarkets and supplies pigmeat to the manufacturing sector. The business has a turnover of about 3100m and a workforce of 700 staff. It is entirely complementary to the Flagship operations and will offer further synergies for the benefit of present and future customers, as well as for the group, says Mr Roach.

Tony Ambler, Flagship Foods’ chairman, says he is enthusiastic about the acquisition. “We are delighted to have completed the purchase of the Glanbia West Midlands operations and look forward to working with the management and staff to bring further benefits to our customers, farmer suppliers and our group,“ he comments.

Malcolm Longley will remain managing director of the Glanbia business, reporting directly to Graham Roach.

Source: BKPR - 7th July 2003