Fri, 01 Jul 2016 | BUSINESS SALE
Turkey producer Bernard Matthews has been placed on the market, after “disappointing results” over the past 12 months.
The business's owner has brought in PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to seek potential buyers for the Norfolk-headquartered firm this week. Rutland Partners, which also owns Pizza Hut, and electronics retailer Maplin, bought the company in 2013.
The sale “does not affect the internal operation of the business”, Rutland Partners' executive chairman Alan Jamieson reassured staff when he gave the news in an email. Mr Jamieson added: “Neither does it reduce in any way Rutland’s support for the BM management team as it continues to strengthen and improve the business following the disappointing results achieved over the last year or so.”
Unite union represents about 400 of Bernard Matthews' 2,000 staff, and nevertheless voiced its concern regarding the implications for staff after the news of the upcoming sale, calling for “clarity on what this means for the company and the workers”.
The firm was named after its founder, who started out as a trainee livestock auctioneer in Norwich, and died aged 80 six years ago with an estimated fortune of £300 million. His Golden Norfolk Turkey is still the most popular frozen branded whole turkey eaten at Christmas time in Britain, the website asserts.
Bernard Matthews suffered an outbreak of bird flu in 2007 at its factory in Holton, Suffolk, as was also later hit by the soaring costs of turkey feed in 2011.
Food-related businesses for sale
Finance your business purchase
Sale of a soft home furnishing provider, operating nationwide from a leasehold premises in the East Midlands. Currently a family ran business specialising in the sourcing and import.
The company provides roadside assistance, vehicle recovery and garage workshop facilities, utilising a diverse, varied fleet of specialised vehicles to provide rapid support to clients based across South East England.
The company is a manufacturer of specialist textile products that have a variety of applications, including the aerospace, agricultural, defence, maritime and materials handling sectors, as well as any industries involved in height safety.
Please choose your settings for this site below. For more information please read our Cookie Policy
These cookies are necessary for our website to function properly and provide you with access to all features.
These are analytics cookies that help us to improve the way our website works.
These are used to improve the functional performance of the website and make it easier for you to use.