Summit Foods – which reported annual revenues of £24m and employs 200 people – will continue to operate from its current base in Preston, with no immediate changes to its operations, branding or customer offerings.
The leadership team from Summit will remain in place for a six-month transition period to facilitate a smooth transition.
Presence in the UK
Commenting on the acquisition, Kepak chief executive Brian Farrell said: “We are pleased to welcome Summit Foods to the Kepak Group. This acquisition aligns with our growth strategy, developing our presence in the UK convenience and out-of-home food channels.
“Summit’s portfolio of fresher for longer sandwiches, chilled and frozen meals & snacks complements our existing micro snacking offerings and allows us to deepen our presence across these markets.”
Kepak said it would leverage its existing distribution network and market expertise to support the future growth of Summit Foods, while strengthening its own position in the UK’s food-to-go and micro-snacking market.
For the immediate future, the two companies will work closely to align operations and explore potential synergies, particularly in the areas of product development and distribution.
Kepak investments
The last couple of years have seen Kepak make investments across both its facilities and its workforce, with a heavy focus on its Welsh production site.
In June last year, the manufacturer announced plans to create 150 new jobs as part of a £16m planned investment into its Welsh meat plant. This was just one year after it invested £5.5m into the site in response to a recent rise in demand for its products, creating more than 100 new jobs.
The start of last year also saw Kepak offer free training places in partnership with the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD), with 200 places available to individuals interested in a career in the sector.
Meanwhile, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded its investigation into the anticipated acquisition of Volac Whey Nutrition Holdings by Arla Food Ingredients.
