UK food group Symington’s has signed a licensing deal with Unilever that will see the firm expand its reach to Australia and New Zealand.
The convenience food manufacturer will licence Unilever’s wet sauces portfolio in Australia and New Zealand. The deal represents Symington’s first major international venture.
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Symington’s will take on three brands from Unilever: Chicken Tonight, Raguletto and Five Brothers. Under the terms of the deal, the brands will continue to be produced at Unilever’s factory in Victoria, Australia.
In 2011, Symington’s acquired the rights to the Chicken Tonight and another sauce brand, Ragu, in the UK and Ireland. Symington’s claims sales of Chicken Tonight and Ragu have increased by 15% since the deal.
For the Australian venture, Symington’s will set up an office in Melbourne to oversee the Australian wet sauces portfolio. At the same time, the team will grow Symington’s convenience foods business – both branded and private label – in the country.
“This venture will allow Symington’s to do what it does best – invest in new products and brands and reintroduce them to consumers who can then enjoy them afresh,” said Symington’s chief executive David Salkeld. “We have a great relationship with Unilever and are delighted to have the opportunity to do what we did for Chicken Tonight and Ragu in the UK with our retail customers and consumers down under.”
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