Northern Foods takes Ethnic Cuisine

Northern Foods has acquired, for an undisclosed cash sum, the entire issued share capital of Ethnic Cuisine Limited. The chilled ready meal market is worth over €2 billion and is growing at around 6% per year.  Following this acquisition, Northern Foods will have a 19.6% share of the market.

The acquisition of Ethnic Cuisine, which is a supplier of chilled ready meals and snacks to J Sainsbury and Brake Bros Ltd., allows Northern Foods to consolidate its number one position in the ready meals market and widen its existing ready meals customer base. (Both companies are UK-based.)

It also supports Northern Foods’ future growth plans, in line with its recently presented strategy, by acquiring additional ready meals manufacturing capacity from existing market providers. Northern Foods has major shares in the British, Italian and Oriental ready meals market, and currently provides ready meals to Asda, M&S and Morrisons.

Established in 1994, Ethnic Cuisine has a particular strength in oriental foods. Company founder and managing director Meng Yap, will remain with the business in the short term to ensure a smooth transition. Ethnic Cuisine will be managed by Robin Walker, managing director of Northern Foods’ Convenience Foods business unit.