FDBusiness.com

UK and Irish convenience food processor Greencore Group is extending its chilled prepared foods business in the US with the acquisition of On A Roll Sales, a manufacturer of fresh sandwiches based in Brockton, Massachusetts, for an undisclosed sum. Gross assets of the business being acquired at September 30th 2010 were $3.4m.

“On A Roll is a promising, growing business with a well diversified customer base of major retailers and convenience stores. This acquisition, will provide an additional revenue stream to Greencore USA’s food to go category and will complement our existing businesses in Newburyport and Cincinnati,” points out Eoin Tonge, group development director of Greencore.

Tony Hynes.

Greencore holds significant positions in the UK convenience food market across sandwiches, chilled prepared meals, chilled soups and sauces, ambient sauces and pickles, cakes and desserts, and Yorkshire puddings. Of course, Greencore is in the process of merging with rival UK convenience food group Northern Foods to create Essenta Foods, a £1.7b turnover business.

Meanwhile, Tony Hynes has decided to step down from his executive role at Greencore. Tony Hynes has helped develop the strategy of the business since his appointment in 2001 during a period of significant change in the company, its markets, its portfolio and the leadership team. He will remain on as chairman of the US business over the next twelve months.