Bernard Matthews

Trading through Covid-19 and beyond, daily food industry updates – Monday 23 November (free to read)

23 Nov 2020

Daily updates on how Covid-19 is affecting the world's packaged food sector – and how executives see the market and consumer behaviour taking shape in the months ahead.

Bernard Matthews' Suffolk plant sees Covid-19 outbreak

1 Oct 2020

Bernard Matthews, the UK turkey processor owned by the boss of 2 Sisters Food Group, has seen an outbreak of coronavirus at a plant in east England.

Bernard Matthews customers "should be unaffected" by fire at turkey plant

24 Aug 2020

Bernard Matthews, the UK turkey business under the purview of the owner of 2 Sisters Food Group, has confirmed a fire hit its plant at the weekend.

New products - Nestle enters alternative seafood category; Green Giant breadsticks from B&G Foods; Country Archer's Zero Sugar Jerky; Unilever's Hellmann's brand rolls out coleslaw

20 Aug 2020

This week's batch of new products includes Nestle's move into seafood alternatives and a new category for Premier Foods.

Bernard Matthews lining up bid for troubled Banham Poultry

5 Oct 2018

UK turkey producer Bernard Matthews is among parties looking to acquire beleaguered Banham Poultry, an independent family-owned business based in Norfolk, in eastern England.

Jobs to go at UK turkey group Bernard Matthews, says union

6 Apr 2017

UK turkey processor Bernard Matthews is to axe 128 jobs at its Great Witchingham headquarters in Norfolk, eastern England and "cease all-year-round chicken production" at the facility, union leaders claimed today (6 April).

UK turkey group Bernard Matthews eyes job cuts

8 Feb 2017

UK turkey processor Bernard Matthews could be set to cut 150 jobs in a bid to make the business "fit for future growth".

Competition watchdog clears Bernard Matthews deal by 2 Sisters chief Ranjit Boparan

13 Jan 2017

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared last year's acquisition of turkey processor Bernard Matthews by the private investment vehicle of Ranjit Singh Boparan, the CEO of the UK's 2 Sisters Food Group.

Probe starts into Bernard Matthews deal by 2 Sisters chief Ranjit Boparan

19 Oct 2016

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into the acquisition of turkey processor Bernard Matthews by the private investment vehicle of Ranjit Singh Boparan, the CEO of the UK's 2 Sisters Food Group.

What next for UK turkey processor Bernard Matthews?

23 Sep 2016

There is hope the embattled UK turkey processor can be revitalised under the stewardship of Ranjit Singh Boparan, the UK businessman with extensive interests in poultry. However, there are questions about what will happen to the pensions of Bernard Matthews' staff, while the company's commercial performance is in need of improvement.

Bernard Matthews sale to 2 Sisters chief puts focus on pension scheme

21 Sep 2016

The UK's Pension Protection Fund (PPF) said today (21 June) it is set to start assessing the pension scheme of turkey producer Bernard Matthews, which was acquired last night by the private investment vehicle of Ranjit Singh Boparan, the chief executive of the UK's 2 Sisters Food Group.

2 Sisters chief Ranjit Boparan buys Bernard Matthews

21 Sep 2016

Europe's largest turkey producer, Bernard Matthews, has been acquired by the private investment vehicle of Ranjit Singh Boparan, the chief executive of the UK's 2 Sisters Food Group.

UK regulator "in contact" with Bernard Matthews' pension fund trustees

20 Sep 2016

The UK's pensions regulator has confirmed it is "in contact" with trustees of the Bernard Matthews pension fund over reports Europe's largest turkey producer is about to be sold – with Boparan Holdings-owned 2 Sisters Food Group understood to be one of two potential buyers.

MP calls for pensions probe into Bernard Matthews "deal"

20 Sep 2016

A senior UK MP has called for the country's pensions regulator to investigate the "imminent sale" of Europe's largest turkey manufacturer, UK-based Bernard Matthews.

Union calls for Bernard Matthews talks as "second suitor" emerges

19 Sep 2016

The UK's biggest trade union, Unite, today (19 September) called for urgent talks with the management of Europe's largest turkey manufacturer, UK-based Bernard Matthews, after the union said a second potential buyer for the company had emerged.

Bernard Matthews owner silent on talk of imminent sale to 2 Sisters

19 Sep 2016

The majority owner of Europe's largest turkey manufacturer, Bernard Matthews, has declined to comment on reports that an announcement of the sale of the business to Boparan Holdings-owned 2 Sisters Food Group is imminent.

Bernard Matthews owner 'transferring pension liability'

12 Sep 2016

Fresh uncertainty has been raised over the future of Bernard Matthews, with reports suggesting that the company's owners could be preparing to transfer the company's pension liability to the Pension Protection Fund. 

Bernard Matthews selling German operations

6 Jul 2016

Europe's largest turkey manufacturer, Bernard Matthews, said today (6 July) it had exchanged contracts to sell its German subsidiary, Bernard Matthews Oldenburg (BMO), to Germany's Sprehe Gruppe.

Turkey group Bernard Matthews for sale 

30 Jun 2016

The owners of Europe's largest turkey manufacturer, Bernard Matthews, are considering selling the business. 

UPDATE: Bernard Matthews sale "worrying time" for workers – union

30 Jun 2016

Unite, the union representing workers at the UK's largest turkey producer Bernard Matthews, has called for clarity over the company's future after it emerged the business' private-equity owners are consulting with advisers on a possible sale. 

Bernard Matthews boosts capacity at Norfolk site

8 Jan 2015

Turkey processor Bernard Matthews is to increase production capacity at its Norfolk site.

UK: Poor turkey sales see Bernard Matthews close plant

8 May 2014

Bernard Matthews is preparing to close its Grainthorpe factory in Lincolnshire - a move which sees 80 jobs at risk.

UK: Kerry "front runner" to acquire Peperami

2 Dec 2013

Irish food manufacturer Kerry Group is reportedly leading the race to acquire meat snack brand Peperami from Unilever.

UK: Bernard Matthews runs up GBP20m loss

13 Nov 2013

UK poultry producer Bernard Matthews has booked a loss of over GBP20m in its latest financial accounts.

Interview: Investor Rutland to help put Bernard Matthews "back on the map"

4 Sep 2013

Turnaround specialist Rutland Partners has taken a stake in the UK's largest turkey brand, Bernard Matthews. Rutland managing partner Paul Cartwright is undaunted by the challenges that the company faces and - with a fresh injection of funds - Rutland believes it can help put Bernard Matthews "back on the map". Katy Askew spoke to Cartwright to find out more about what attracted the generalist investor to the struggling poultry processor.

UK: Turnaround specialist Rutland invests in Bernard Matthews

4 Sep 2013

Turnaround specialist Rutland Partners has invested in Bernard Matthews, in a move it said would "strengthen" the UK poultry group and support "future growth and development".

Deal or no deal: Unilever's Peperami draws buyer speculation

22 Jul 2013

Unilever could soon be selling another food brand. The company, which has offloaded a number of food assets in recent years, is understood to be on the look out for a buyer for its Peperami snack brand. While Unilever has declined to comment on the reports, analysts have offered their views as to who might snap up this "animal" of a brand.

Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food last week

24 Jun 2013

The leading story this week was clear: the UK's announcement of what the new front-of-pack nutrition label will look like and crucially, which companies have signed up - and which haven't. The Australian government also put forward plans for a front-of-pack label, although the country's food industry was less than happy. Elsewhere, M&A dominated, with Archer Daniels Midland admitting it was in talks to sell its cocoa business, Chinese dairy giant Mengniu looking to buy local infant formula firm Yashili and Campbell Soup Co. making another acquisition outside the soup sector.

Deal or no deal: 2 Sisters touted prime Bernard Matthews bidder

20 Jun 2013

Bernard Matthews Farms has admitted it may look for outside investment and 2 Sisters Food Group is reportedly considering a bid for the business. Industry watchers believe the UK food giant is the prime candidate to acquire the poultry processor. Michelle Russell reports.

UK: Mars, PepsiCo among signatories to hybrid nutrition labels

19 Jun 2013

Chocolate giant Mars and crisp manufacturer PepsiCo are among over 20 food makers and retailers to agree to adopt new "hybrid" front-of-pack nutrition labels in the UK.