LDC, the French poultry group, has insisted that it has made no decision on whether it would offload part of ready-meal unit Marie, which the company bought two months ago.
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Reports in the French media this week suggested LDC could sell the frozen food part of Marie as the group looks to bed the business into the company.
A spokesperson for LDC said the company’s management was focusing on integrating Marie into the business and that no decision would be made until the spring.
“LDC’s priority is to study the synergies between the group and Marie – and there will be no decision before the end of the first quarter,” the spokesperson told just-food.
LDC bought Marie, which makes a range of branded prepared meals, including pizza, pies, quiches, as well as frozen meals, from UK convenience food group Uniq in September in a EUR60m (US$89.4m) deal.
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By GlobalDataEarlier this week, France’s competition watchdog gave the green light to LDC’s acquisition of smaller local rival Groupe Arrivé – but on the condition that the poultry giant offloaded certain assets.
The spokesperson said LDC accepted the decisions and had “prepared” itself for the ruling.
On Wednesday, LDC also booked rising half-year earnings and upped its annual profit target on the back of improving demand for poultry products in France and less volatile commodity costs.
