Irish foods brands Valeo Jacob Fruitfield form merger

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The news today that Valeo Foods and Jacob fruitfield highlights how profitable the food business can be, and how corporations use identity and brands.
I expect most Irish people know of Jacobs Fruitfield, more commonly as just Jacobs. Jacobs have not been strictly been a Irish food business since 1990, when the French multi national Danone bought them.
It is about time that Irish people ceased to imagine that Jacobs is a single entity Irish business.
Jacobs is now just a brand name, mostly owned by McVities who are definitely not a Irish foods business and should not be supported as a Irish business or food producer.
Fruitfield foods' purchased what was left of the Irish arm of Danone Jacobs.
Jacob Fruitfield Food Group.
Is the owner of many iconic Irish brands such as Jacobs, Bolands and Chef. Bolands was re-launched in new packaging with a much broader range as a budget alternative to Jacobs in 2009.
In 2007 Jacobs took McVities to court for infringement of copyright.
McVities launched Cream Crackers and Fig Rolls in the Irish market in similar packaging. It was revealed that McVities were also making the same products under contract for Jacobs and had even designed Jacobs labels for them.
Crackers legal row takes the biscuit". Irish Independent. October 2, 2007.
In May 2009 Jacobs ceased production of biscuits at its home in Tallaght, Dublin. Production was moved to Portugal, Poland, the UK, France and Malta for cost reasons. Some minor production remains in Ireland with Wafer biscuits made in Donegal, Real Irish products in Drogheda and premium oat biscuits in Cork. 220 people lost their jobs as a result of the closure in 2009.

But how many will have ever heard of Valeo foods.
Overview
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Valeo Foods was formed in 2010 with the merger of Batchelors and Origin Foods. The company has an excellent portfolio of leading consumer brands and is focused on the development of iconic food brands in the Irish and international grocery market. The Valeo Foods brand portfolio is comprised of the Amigo, Batchelors, Erin, Lustre, Picnic, Odlums, Roma, Sqeez and Shamrock brands.

In addition, Valeo Foods represents a number of leading national and international food manufacturers and provides a range of tailored route-to-market services including field sales, head office sales, warehousing and distribution.

Product Portfolio

The Group’s product portfolio encompasses a wide range of food commodities including wheat, canned beans and peas, vine fruit, almonds, nuts, tuna, canned tomatoes, olive oil, dried pasta, rice, juices, dried sauces, meal mixes, pasta sauces, sugar and oats.
Two companies which own some of Ireland's best-known consumer food brands have announced plans to join forces.
Valeo Foods, which was formed last year through a merger of Origin Foods and Batchelors, has agreed to buy Jacob Fruitfield. The price is not being disclosed.
Jacob Fruitfield's products include Jacob's biscuits, Chef sauces and Fruitfield jams. Valeo's brands include Batchelors, Odlums, Shamrock and Erin.
The combined business will have an annual turnover of around €300m and a workforce of almost 500.
Valeo is controlled by London-based private equity firm CapVest, which is headed by Seamus Fitzpatrick, who is also chairman of Valeo. Origin Enterprises is also a shareholder, while Jacob Fruitfield shareholders will also be taking a stake in the enlarged Valeo.
Seamus Kearney, Jacob Fruitfield's managing director, will become the group CEO of Valeo when the deal is completed.
Mr Fitzpatrick said the deal was a significant step in what was likely to be a continuing process of consolidation in the Irish food sector.

Even the Jacob Fruitfield Food Group brand lines
Are they really Irish
Do you know where these are made?
Jacob's Afternoon Tea
Jacob's Chocolate Coated Biscuits
Jacob's Club
Jacob's Coconut Creams
Jacob’s Cookies
Jacob's Cream Crackers
Jacob's Creams
Jacob's Elite
Jacob's Fig Rolls
Jacob's Goldgrain
Jacob's Kimberley
Jacob's Mikado
Jacob’s Oat Crumbles
Jacob's Plain Biscuits
Jacob's Teatime
Jacob's USA

Who put's the figs in the fig rolls?
Not anyone in Ireland.
Those who did were made redundant and their jobs given to England and Eastern Europe.

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Irish Forums Message Discussion :: Irish foods brands Valeo Jacob Fruitfield form merger

Irish foods brands Valeo Jacob Fruitfield form merger