2SFG unveils plans to accelerate business transformation

UK-based food manufacturer 2 Sisters Food Group (2SFG) has unveiled a series of initiatives in order to accelerate its business transformation strategy.

The company intends to make further investments in its UK Poultry and Fox’s Biscuits businesses.

Additionally, 2SFG has proposed to reduce its UK poultry sites in order to produce shorter, efficient supply chains and enhance the company’s competitiveness against its peer group.

2SFG CEO Ronald Kers said: “Our stated strategy is to become the number one poultry plus business in Europe and for several months now we have been engaged in a strategic review to facilitate our delivery on this, focussed on improving execution, reducing cost and building a better organisational culture.

“But there is now a pressing need to accelerate our turnaround so we can further increase the performance of our business.

“That’s why we’re keen to invest where we see potential growth: our UK Poultry business will benefit from this further investment and work, which has already started to get Fox’s Biscuits in shape for the future ramps up to the next level with some major investment around automation, marketing and product innovation.”

The company is also proposing to close its loss-making sites, which includes its UK Poultry business’ Witham processing site in Essex.

2SFG explained that it has initiated the consultation process and will explore all options, including redeploying Witham employees to other sites in the wider group.

Commenting on the speculation of the sale of the Matthew Walker Christmas Pudding business, Kers said: “We have been clear for some time now that we will realise the value of our businesses to improve our balance sheet only if it is strategically right for us to do so.

“It is quite natural to get this kind of speculation and, although we do not normally comment, we are in the early stages of a sale process for Matthew Walker and anticipate strong international interest.”

The company has also announced that its Gunstones bakery site in Dronfield has secured customer commitments, which would provide a platform for the business to build a sustainable future.

In March, 2SFG announced plans to cut nearly 300 jobs at its manufacturing site located in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England.