Manfield acquired MCM Select Foods Ltd, in the UK, and MCM Foods BV, based in the Netherlands, in December, 2011.
The two businesses formed part of Mitsui’s Packaged Foods operations and import, distribute and market a mixture of exclusive brands and own label foods for retailers and food service companies. The product range comprises primarily canned fish (tuna, salmon etc) and fruit.
The businesses had both been historically loss-making and both had been operated largely as independent entities despite a similar supplier base and product ranges.
Manfield was attracted to the two businesses by the strong customer and supplier relationships they had built in their respective markets and the opportunity to grow the businesses into more branded higher value areas.
After acquiring the businesses Manfield appointed a new Managing Director in the Netherlands to work alongside the incumbent UK management team and a new Chairman. We streamlined the operations and improved the key functions within the business including procurement, supply chain and sales and marketing, and to drive revenue and profit growth by concentrating on the core product ranges.
The combined businesses generated revenues of circa £75m in the year to March 2012 with profits in excess of £1m.
In February 2013 the MCM Foods BV business was sold to Gloe & Zeitz BV and in late 2013 Manfield sold all the UK contracts and assets.