Central Foods turns overseas as UK firms emigrate

Catering frozen food supplier Central Foods is being forced to look outside the UK as processors increasingly shift production overseas, according to md Gordon Lauder.

“Unfortunately, there has been a reduction in manufacturers in the UK as more are withdrawing and going overseas,” said Lauder. “2008 will be a year of consolidation and contraction in the manufacturing sector.”

Lauder said the company, which sources frozen food from the UK, Europe and the Far East was considering increasing its interest in frozen soya supply. But he said the market had hit a hurdle, with some land used for soya being set aside for biodiesel crops, limiting soya supplies and increasing prices.

Lauder’s comments came after the management buyout of Central Foods was announced. Under the new structure, Lauder has become sole md, having been joint md with former md Tony Levy. Levy has now sold his share in the business.

Lauder said Central Foods was currently performing well, with sales to the end of January already 20% up on last year to £19.5M.