McCain feeling chipper with profit rise
FROZEN chip giant McCain Foods GB has seen profits surge passed the £60m mark but reported a fall in turnover following a “sluggish” start to the year.
The Scarborough-based frozen food manufacturer’s revenue fell to £440m in the year to June 30, 2015 from £444.8m last time while pre-tax profit rose to £63.7m from £54.7m.
The group, which employs more than 1,700 staff in the UK, said a strong potato crop ensured virtually 100% British supply for the year.
Despite competitive pressure from European producers fuelled by cheap potatoes and the weak Euro, the business said sales volumes strengthened through the year after a “sluggish” start brought on by the hot summer in 2014.
In its latest filing to Companies House, the group said: “As brand leader, the company believes it can continue to stimulate growth through innovation, quality and service. The directors are satisfied with the financial position of the company at the end of the year.”
McCain Foods GB is part of the Canadian-registered McCain Foods Group, founded in 1957 by the McCain brothers in their hometown of Florenceville.
McCain created the first ever frozen chip and went on to become the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products.
Today McCain is still family owned, and has grown to 41 production facilities across six continents, employing over 17,000 across the world.
The company has four factories across the UK, including its head office in Scarborough.
McCain is the UK’s largest purchaser of British potatoes, buying around 15% of the annual potato crop.
