Kepak acquires 2 Sisters Red Meat
Purchased for an undisclosed sum, the move is designed to boost Kepak’s scale through “strategic fits”.
Kepak added that the move was a currency hedge for the existing and new divisions of the business ahead of Brexit.
The 2 Sisters Red Meat business is operated from four main production sites: McIntosh Donald, Portlethen, Scotland; and Three St Merryn sites - Merthyr, Glamorgan, Wales, as well as Bodmin and Victoria in Cornwall, England.
The sites have the capacity to process 250,000 head of cattle and more than one million lambs per year, sourced from 13,000 farmers across the UK.
John Horgan, managing director of Kepak Group, said: “Kepak has a clear strategy to grow its meat and food businesses in partnership with key customers and in markets that are complementary to our existing businesses in Ireland and in the UK. The acquisition of this red meat business, with its very solid UK retail, foodservice and manufacturing relationships, marks a very significant next step in delivering on our strategy. It is a great fit for Kepak.
“The addition of these facilities to Kepak Group significantly increases the value and scale of our business. We are delighted to welcome all our new colleagues who will transfer with the acquisition. We look forward to working with them to grow our combined Irish and UK businesses and to further develop relationships with existing and new customers. In doing so, we will collaborate closely with the livestock farmers who have been loyal suppliers to these UK sites for many years.”
In a statement, Boparan Holdings president Ranjit Singh said: “We have had approaches over the past four years for our Red Meat operations, and we have been talking to several interested parties during this period. But as we always make clear, any sale has to be at the right time with the right buyer, and it had to be a deal that fitted with our long-term strategy.
“This deal represents another major step in transforming 2 Sisters and building a better business.
“Kepak Group is the ideal home for our Red Meat business, and this deal is a perfect strategic fit for them. We wish them future success.
“With customers and consumers at the heart of everything we do, we will continue to focus on delivering great-quality, great-value products every day.”
