Group Heritage

The Group was originally formed in 1997, in conjunction with a private equity partner to purchase a number of assets from Hillsdown Holdings plc. In 2010, the senior management team successfully completed a management buy-out, providing long-term stability and guaranteeing the future development of the Group.

Since inception, the Group has experienced significant organic growth, with a focus on our core capabilities to sustain a competitive edge. During this time we have been active investors in buying and selling businesses. Our turnover is in excess of £500 million, we have over 900 employees and a financially strong balance sheet. The diversity of our businesses within the food industry affords a level of resilience to the economic cycle, as demonstrated during the recent recession.

Group Overview

The head office for the Group is located in London, with operations largely based in the UK. The Group also operates businesses in Western Europe and New Zealand. Our activities are focused on the food and animal by-products sectors and principally concern the processing, manufacture, supply and marketing of fresh fruit and produce, meat, poultry, and the manufacture and processing of leather.

We have established a strong presence within the UK fruit sector supplying retail supermarkets. We add value by working with growers of fruit to develop and produce the finest fruit available in the market. This assists the Group to introduce new products into the market place, enabling us to react and influence fluctuating consumer trends. It is our ability to adapt and innovate that places us as the premier supplier of soft fruit in the country. We also invest and participate in exclusive fruit variety breeding programs on a worldwide basis.