Premier Foods

Hillsdown Holdings was founded by Harry Solomon and David Thompson in 1975. The name came from Thompson's house - Hillsdown.

1981 it acquired Lockwoods Foods, a canned foods business.

1986 it bought various food businesses from Beecham Group

1990 Acquired Premier Brands which included Typhoo and Cadbury's drinks.

1999 Hillsdown was bought by the private equity company Hicks, Muse, Tate and Furst; the businesses were reorganised; formation of Premier Foods

Lyons Biscuits became part of biscuit manufacturer Burton's Foods Ltd.

2002 Premier Brands bought Nestlé's ambient foods business including Sarson's vinegar and Branston Pickle

2003 Acquired Ambrosia and Brown and Polson from Unilever. Also acquired Weetabix

2004 Premier Brands Foods plc was incorporated; its name was changed to Premier Foods plc later in the year.

2004 Premier Foods became a public company and was listed on the London Stock Exchange.

In February 2005 Premier Foods acquired from Kraft Foods their ambient desserts businesses including Bird's Custard and Angel Delight.

In June 2005 Marlow Foods, makers of Quorn, was purchased and this was followed in October by the acquisition of Cauldron, consolidating the two leading brands in the meat-free category.

In October 2005 Premier Foods announced that it was selling Typhoo Tea to India's Apeejay Surrendra Group for $140 million.

In October 2005 Premier Foods launched Branston Baked Beans. The marketing and promotion of this product was aimed squarely at challenging Heinz's dominance of the UK baked bean market. This marketing included an advert, featuring a Branston Bean Tin explaining how Branston Beans are very "saucy." Heinz was subsequently obliged to re-evaluate its advertising strategy in the face of this aggressive activity.

2006 Premier Foods acquired Campbells' UK and Ireland businesses for £460 million. Brands included in the deal were Oxo, Batchelors, Homepride and Fray Bentos. The Campbells' cans had to be re-branded as Batchelor's Condensed Soup (as the Campbell brand itself was not acquired) but labels still carried the label "Formerly Campbell's. Same great taste."

In March 2007 Premier Foods completed the takeover of its rival RHM for £1.2 billion. The company now produced many major brands including:

• Hovis
• Mr Kipling
• Batchelors
• Quorn
• Bisto
• Sharwoods
• Cadbury (cakes and spreads)
• Ambrosia
• Loyd Grossman
• Branston

In July 2007 Premier foods announced it was to close the following RHM sites: Bristol, Droylsden (makers of Robertson's Golden Shred since 1890 and Sharwood's brands), Middlewich (makers of Bisto and Salts), Wythenshawe (makers of Sharwood's Pappadoms and Paxo), Ledbury (makers of specialist jams) and Reading (Foodservices).

In December 2007, the King's Lynn depot, where Fray Bentos pies were made, was to be closed.

2011 The Chivers brand was sold to the Boyne Valley Group who still make a range of preserves under the Chivers name.

2012 Sold the vinegar and pickled vegetables businesses as well as the Sarson's, Haywards and Dufrais brands and a factory in Middleton Manchester to Mizkan Euro Ltd, and then the sweet pickle and table sauces businesses and the factory at Bury St Edmunds as well as the Branston brand to Mizkan Euro.

2015 Has 13 locations in the UK and employs 3,675 persons. Brands include Sharwood’s, Loyd Grossman, Homepride, Bisto, OXO, Paxo, Batchelors, Smash, Ambrosia, Angel Delight, Bird’s, Mr. Kipling, Cadbury, and Lyons.

See Also

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Sources of Information

• [1] Wikipedia