Jobs safe as giant buys Fisher Foods

A new deal saves Albert Fisher jobs

One of the biggest producers of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables in the world has come to the rescue of 1,200 Fisher Foods jobs.

The company went in to administration in May with debts of £100m - administrators KPMG took over the day-to-day running of the business.

On Wednesday Del Monte Fresh Packaged Produce, the UK subsidiary of the US giant, announced it was buying off the chilled foods division.

The decision secures a total of 1,000 jobs - 310 at Wisbech in Norfolk and 660 at Methwold in Suffolk. Another 280 people are employed at York.

We have a great business here and now we can put the Del Monte brand behind us to reach new heights

Alex Faulker, Fisher Foods

KPMG would not disclose the price paid for the business.

The King's Lynn factory, which produces a third of the nation's frozen peas, was sold last week to a Belgian company, Pingouin.

The deal arrived just in time for the pea harvest.

Alex Faulkner, the regional manufacturing manager at the Wisbech site, said he was confident the Del Monte deal meant there would be no redunancies.

"It is great news. We have a great business here and now we can put the Del Monte brand behind us to reach new heights."

'Jobs saved'

Joint administrative receiver at KPMG, Mick McLoughlin, said: "We are obviously delighted to have helped save 1,250 jobs and ensure a sale to a corporation with the size and reputation of Del Monte.

"We wish them and the employees well in their future operations."

The acquisition means only the future of Albert Fisher's seafoods business, which has sites in Fraserburgh, Peterhead and Gosforth, remains in doubt.

KPMG hopes negotiations for the sale of the remaining business will result in a deal in the next few weeks.