Burton’s Biscuits announces merger with Fox’s
Browne, formally managing director of Burton’s, will now serve as chief executive of the combined Fox’s Burton’s Companies (FBC) UK.
The new business will continue to operate under the Ferrero-related company following the acquisition of Burton’s last year and the acquisition of Fox's Biscuits in 2020.
As part of the integration, the FBC Leadership Team will now be undertaking a strategic review which will determine the details behind the transition.
Chief executive comments
Commenting on the merger, Browne said: “After many years of looking at one another, we are excited about bringing together two businesses that share the same passion for crafting British biscuits with care, quality and innovation.’’
Established in 1935, Burton’s employed about 2,000 people as of 2021 and generated sales of more than £275m during the 2020/21 period. The business was acquired by Ontario Teachers’ in 2013 before being sold to a Ferrero-related company in June last year.
As part of the transaction, the Ferrero-related Company took over the six production facilities in the UK based in Blackpool, Dorset, Edinburgh, Livingston, Llantarnam and Isle of Arran.
Acquisitions
The previous year saw Ferrero acquire part of Fox’s Biscuits from 2 Sisters food Group in a deal worth £246m.
2 Sisters stated it had sold its Batley and Kirkham factories – which primarily produce biscuits sold under the Fox’s brand – while it retained the third site at Uttoxeter, which produced own-label biscuits for major retailers.
Meanwhile, Uttoxeter-based Elkes Biscuits was sold to the Boparan Private Office (BPO) for an undisclosed fee, saving the jobs of more than 500 employees at the site.
The corporate statement from Elkes about the sale read: “We were always clear that we were looking to find a purchaser of the business as an alternative to closure, so it is very satisfying to successfully complete this transaction. This is good news for the business and the town, securing the immediate future of the site and keeping alive the 100-year biscuit-making heritage in Uttoxeter.”
