Salad firm buys processing site from MyFresh

By Matt Atherton

- Last updated on GMT

Florette has acquired MyFresh's Wigan site
Florette has acquired MyFresh's Wigan site

Related tags Lettuce

Salad supplier Florette UK & Ireland has bought MyFresh Prepared Produce’s Wigan site, for an undisclosed sum.

Florette UK & Ireland, owned by the French Agrial group, will develop and invest in the site, the salad firm said. The acquisition complemented Florette’s current operations in Staffordshire and across Europe, said the salad supplier’s md Doug Robertson.

“The acquisition of MyFresh continues an exciting journey for Florette in the UK & Ireland,”​ said Robertson. “MyFresh is a successful business that complements our existing operations, and will help us to grow in the convenience retail and foodservice markets – both of which are showing consistent levels of growth and allows us to meet consumers’ needs for healthy food options, whatever the channel.

‘A great addition’

“MyFresh shares similar business values to Florette and we are confident this new acquisition will be a great addition to the Florette portfolio. We would like to welcome MyFresh to the Florette family and look forward to growing together.”

The MyFresh site will continue trading under the same name, but will stop using the MyFresh name in the coming months, said its owner William Jackson Food Group.

MyFresh’s only other UK site at Chicksands, Bedfordshire, would continue to be owned by William Jackson Food Group, it was confirmed.

‘Grow the business’

A William Jackson Food Group statement read: “The sale to Agrial is a fantastic opportunity for the Wigan site. The new owners are experts in fresh produce with a long history of investing in, and growing business in the sector; they are committed to the future of the business at the Wigan site and will invest to continue to grow the business.

“MyFresh Chicksands remains very much a part of the William Jackson Food Group, led by md Tim Proudlove, and will continue to trade under the MyFresh name indefinitely.”

The Wigan site has about 300 workers, and was MyFresh’s purpose-built factory for salad leaf processing. More than 70% of its iceberg lettuce was sourced within 20 miles of the facility during UK growing season.

Meanwhile, a salad supplier entered administration​ after the value of sterling plummeted after the EU referendum.

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