Acquisitions only way to survive: ready meals boss

Acquiring other business with a broader product range is the only way food and drink businesses can survive and grow, according to the boss of one ready meal firm.

Jeeva Sanmugam, md of ready meals firm Classic Cuisine, told Food Manufacture.co.uk in this exclusive video, if the company had not acquired vegetarian and desert brand Jon George last year it would not have been able to grow.

Since buying Jon George out of recession for an undisclosed sum, Classic Cuisine has notched up a 40% sales increase. Sanmugam said the acquisition had helped the firm provide a more flexible service to its clients.

New purpose built factory

In this video Sanmugam revealed plans to invest in a new purpose-built factory over the next two years to continue the growth of the business.

Sanmugam also revealed her two top tips for a successful acquisition.

Classic Cuisine produces over 6M ready meals a year for a number of hotels, pubs and restaurants from its 2,415.5m2 factory in Northampton.