Healthy appetite for growth

Posted on 18 Dec 2009 by The Manufacturer

Leicester based food group Samworth Brothers has announced a payroll expansion of 150 new employees and £15.5m worth of new orders from two leading supermarkets.

The fourth generation family-run business owns Ginsters and Blueberry Foods as well as supplying for supermarket’s own brands. The new contracts are to supply Morrisons (£12m) and Marks and Spencers (£3.5m) with traditional English and Italian ready meals which will be made by its Kettleby Foods factory in Melton Mowbray and Saladworks plant in Kirby Muxloe.

Chief executive Brian Stein said: “We already deal with Morrisons and supply their pork pies and sausages. They approached us about the ready-meals because they were unhappy with their current supplier. We showed them our products and it progressed from there,” explained chief executive Brian Stein. “It’s great news for us. It’s going very well and Morrisons is pleased with it.”

He added that the firm is hoping the M&S deal will lead to more business between the two in the future.
Samworth Brothers has 13 businesses across the country and employs 7,000 people in all. The group will record a £650m turnover which represents 10 per cent growth on last year.

Click here to watch an interview with Brian Stein conducted by TM editor Will Stirling.