Sean McAllister
Arla Foods has boosted its presence in the speciality cheese market, promising to offer retailers a solution to the complexities of a fragmented sector.
The announcement follows its "considerable investment" in the sector with the acquisition of HT Webb & Co.
Arla's ranges of Rosenborg blue cheeses and Discover speciality cheeses will be joined by HT Webb's Dutch, French, German, Italian, Austrian and Swiss speciality cheeses.
Chief executive of Arla Foods UK David Salkeld said: "This acquisition signals our intent in this area. We are serious about speciality cheese. Consumers are interested in speciality cheeses but it is a hugely complex market for retailers, with a proliferation of suppliers."
Salkeld added that there was no single UK speciality cheese supplier with the expertise and resource needed to advise major retailers on how to drive the category forward. "Nobody is able to address issues such as category profitability, growth potential or shopper confusion."
But Salkeld believed Arla Foods could provide an overall solution.
John Spencer, MD of major importer EuriLait, said he would welcome a rival creating a clearer understanding of the speciality cheese sector but believed a targeted category approach' was needed. "If Arla adopts this strategy rather than a one brand fits all' approach, I am sure it can help the growth of the market,"he said.
HT Webb will be run as a semi-independent business within Arla Foods UK.
Salkeld plans to expand the company using Arla's experience in merchandising, marketing, packaging and logistics.
"HT Webb is a good business and we plan to turn into a great business," he said.
He described the acquisition as part of a jigsaw of investment that has included £60m in a new milk dairy and chilled distribution warehouse in Leeds and £25m in marketing.
Alan Preston and Peter Clarke, joint managing directors of HT Webb, will stay on with the company.
{{NEWS }}
Arla Foods has boosted its presence in the speciality cheese market, promising to offer retailers a solution to the complexities of a fragmented sector.
The announcement follows its "considerable investment" in the sector with the acquisition of HT Webb & Co.
Arla's ranges of Rosenborg blue cheeses and Discover speciality cheeses will be joined by HT Webb's Dutch, French, German, Italian, Austrian and Swiss speciality cheeses.
Chief executive of Arla Foods UK David Salkeld said: "This acquisition signals our intent in this area. We are serious about speciality cheese. Consumers are interested in speciality cheeses but it is a hugely complex market for retailers, with a proliferation of suppliers."
Salkeld added that there was no single UK speciality cheese supplier with the expertise and resource needed to advise major retailers on how to drive the category forward. "Nobody is able to address issues such as category profitability, growth potential or shopper confusion."
But Salkeld believed Arla Foods could provide an overall solution.
John Spencer, MD of major importer EuriLait, said he would welcome a rival creating a clearer understanding of the speciality cheese sector but believed a targeted category approach' was needed. "If Arla adopts this strategy rather than a one brand fits all' approach, I am sure it can help the growth of the market,"he said.
HT Webb will be run as a semi-independent business within Arla Foods UK.
Salkeld plans to expand the company using Arla's experience in merchandising, marketing, packaging and logistics.
"HT Webb is a good business and we plan to turn into a great business," he said.
He described the acquisition as part of a jigsaw of investment that has included £60m in a new milk dairy and chilled distribution warehouse in Leeds and £25m in marketing.
Alan Preston and Peter Clarke, joint managing directors of HT Webb, will stay on with the company.
{{NEWS }}
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