Dutch deal for Yorkshire food manufacturer

DUTCH food company, VION has acquired a majority stake in Yorkshire-based sausage manufacturer J & J Tranfield.

Tranfield is the UK's largest sausage manufacturer and has grown rapidly since a management buyout led by Colin Wright and Alistair MacDonald, in 2003.

Following the buyout, the Sheffield company has made five acquisitions, including the acquisition of Snowbird Foods, a cooked sausage manufacturer, in the summer of 2007.

Tranfield now has turnover of £130m and employs 1,400 people producing chilled, cooked and frozen sausage, burgers and pizzas for the UK retail and food service market.

Under the deal with VION the present management team at Tranfield will continue to run the business.

VION is an international food group, consisting of three divisions: ingredients, fresh meat and convenience. It has an annual turnover of more than £6bn and employs around 15,000 people worldwide. Its head office is in Son en Breugel in the Netherlands.

Tranfield was advised by Ian Marwood and Bridie Robinson at the Leeds office of Grant Thornton. A team from the Manchester office of Addlewshaw Goddard provided legal advice.

Mr Marwood at Grant Thornton said: “At a time when the food sector is under significant pressure on a number of fronts, Tranfield shows that by building real partnerships with customers, having strong operational and financial controls and maintaining a focus on high quality products, you can be profitable and successful.

“This transaction allows the shareholders to realise some of the rewards of their hard work since the buyout and as part of the strong and ambitious VION group, the business is excellently placed to take advantage of the opportunities in the market place over the next few years.”