Geoff Eaton sets out chilled food challenges

Chilled food processors must remedy overcapacity and meet financial challenges, such as pension deficits, to realise the sector’s potential, according to Geoff Eaton, former chief executive of chilled firm Uniq.

In this exclusive podcast, recorded at our sister title Food Manufacture’s 2012 Business Leaders’ Summit at the Institute of Directors in London, Eaton shared his unique insider insights into the market with Rod Addy.

Despite the considerable pressure many chilled food firms were under, he outlined his belief that the category still has significant growth potential and explained why.

Fewer customers

Speaking at the summit, Eaton said: “Consolidation is happening because people are finding the environment quite tough, but I don’t think consolidation will help. The chilled food market needs far more focus on fewer customers. A strong partnership with customers works really well.”

Uniq, bought by Greencore earlier this year, was itself struggling with a large pension deficit, which underlined the sector’s future challenges.

For more news and views from the Business Leaders’ Summit click here.