January: Asda takes full control of meat firms
Asda bought outright two multi-million pound meat manufacturing firms – Kober and Forza AW – in which it previously owned a stake.
The two Yorkshire-based companies were sole Asda suppliers since 2011. Entrepreneur owner of the sister companies, Smith-Hilliard, now runs a protein division for Asda.
The businesses were added to the portfolio of Asda’s subsidiary International Procurement and Logistics (IPL) based in Normanton.
IPL ceo Nick Scrase said: “We have had a hugely successful partnership with Max Smith-Hilliard over the last five years which has driven significant savings and created a world-class business which we are proud to be bringing into the IPL family.”
Forza, based in Normanton, produces cooked meats and Kober, based in Cleckheaton, produces bacon, steaks and joints.
Read the full story here.