Sofina Meals has affirm the acquisition of Finnebrogue, a family-owned manufacturing enterprise, primarily based in County Down, Northern Eire.
Established in 1991, Finnebrogue employs round 1,200 folks throughout 4 state-of-the-art amenities, producing a variety of meals merchandise, together with outdoor-bred pork, sausages, rashers, and ham, in addition to plant-based options.
Its Bare Vary focuses on pure substances, with merchandise like Bare Bacon, Ham, and Sausages, that are free from synthetic components and made with out nitrites. Its plant-based vary consists of sausages, burgers, meatballs, and mince, and it additionally produces a wide range of high-quality breaded and battered nuggets, goujons and chunks; and a rising vary of ‘veg-rich’ merchandise.
Sofina Meals Europe is a number one provider of each branded and own-label seafood and pork merchandise, and its pork division is likely one of the largest processors and suppliers of merchandise throughout the UK and Eire. The seafood division is the biggest supplier of chilled and frozen merchandise throughout the UK, together with the Younger’s model, and is a serious participant in frozen seafood throughout Germany and France.
This acquisition means Sofina Meals Europe now employs over 9,000 folks throughout 27 websites. It mentioned Finnebrogue’s websites will proceed to supply sustainable, high-quality meals merchandise and can complement its current meals distribution community throughout the UK and in Europe.
Proceed journey
Michael Latifi, founder, chairman and CEO of Sofina Meals, mentioned: “This acquisition will permit Sofina Meals to proceed our journey of formidable growth. We’ve created a world basis for continued progress, with a historical past of excellence in meals manufacturing and processing spanning over 30 years.
‘Each Sofina Meals and Finnebrogue share a standard tradition of excellence, self-discipline and integrity and I look ahead to constructing on the strengths of each firms.”
Ash Amirahmadi, CEO, Sofina Meals Europe, added: “That is an thrilling step ahead for Sofina Meals Europe. Finnebrogue is a massively profitable, award-winning enterprise with related values and ideas to Sofina Meals Europe. I look ahead to welcoming everybody at Finnebrogue to the Sofina Meals household and drawing upon the numerous experience that exists throughout each companies.”
Finnebrogue has gained a number of awards, together with UK Meals Producer of the 12 months in 2023 and Employer of the 12 months on the Grocer Gold Awards in 2024.
Roger Burnley CBE, Chair of Finnebrogue, mentioned: “I’m delighted that Finnebrogue is becoming a member of Sofina Meals Europe, and I do know that this nice enterprise will proceed to flourish as a part of the Sofina household, whose purpose-driven values align intently with our personal, unlocking new alternatives for our folks, our merchandise and our prospects.”
Christine Lynn, Co-founder Finnebrogue mentioned: “My late husband Denis and I began Finnebrogue Venison in December 1991. With Denis’s imaginative and prescient and innovation, the enterprise grew into one of many main meals firms in Northern Eire, making meals one of the best it might be, with out being sure by the way in which it had all the time been performed, and creating over 1,200 jobs alongside the way in which.
“In Could 2021, my husband tragically died; from then on I’ve had the assist and backing of the management staff which Denis created, and I’m so proud that Finnebrogue has continued to prosper and develop.
“However the time has now come for me handy over the baton, and to take action to Sofina who I do know will uphold Denis’s legacy and take Finnebrogue on to its subsequent chapter.”
