calder foods

Flagship Europe has continued to expand in foodservice with a deal for an undisclosed price to buy sandwich fillings maker Calder Foods.

Established more than 20 years ago, Calder makes chilled food-to-go products for foodservice, including sandwich fillings, salads and dips under its own Love Fresh and Love Sauces brands, as well as private label.

Turnover increased 7.5% in 2015 to £21m and operating profit rose by more than £1m to £1.6m.

Founders Paul Barker and Nigel Harrison will remain as joint MDs. “The partnership provides a golden opportunity to develop the Calder Foods portfolio, taking advantage of Flagship Europe’s wider customer base in the foodservice sectors,” the pair said.

Flagship Europe was launched in 1991 and is part of US food and consumer products group Flagship Food, which is based in Los Angeles and employs 500 staff.

It supplies the foodservice industry with branded and private label products from a range of more than 400 SKUs, including value-added chicken, ready meals, fruit and vegetables, sauces and salsas.

The acquisition of Calder is the business’ latest deal following on from the purchase of sauces manufacturer Oasis Foods in 2010 and Oliver James Foods and Oliver James Proper Pies last year.

Revenues jumped by more than £10m to £68.3m in 2015 thanks to new customer wins, acquisitions and an agreement to be the sole supplier of Tabasco into foodservice in the UK.

CEO Russell Maddock said: “Calder Foods has an exceptional reputation within the foodservice sector and their products will provide the perfect complement to our own portfolio of ‘food to go’ products for this marketplace. We look forward to a smooth transition and to further developing both the business and the Love Fresh brand under the Flagship Europe umbrella.”