Premier Foods

Premier Foods plc is a British food manufacturer headquartered in St Albans, Hertfordshire. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index.

The group owns many well-known brands, including Mr Kipling, Ambrosia, Angel Delight, Homepride cooking sauces, Sharwood's, Loyd Grossman sauces, Oxo, Bisto and Batchelors. Premier Foods also produce cakes under the Cadbury's name, using the brand under licence.

Premier Foods primarily competes with Unilever, Associated British Foods, 2 Sisters Food Group, Greencore and Interlink.

History

Formation

The company was founded by Harry Solomon and David Thompson in 1975 as Hillsdown Holdings. His son Richard Thompson worked for his father after his education at Haileybury. The name came from Thompson's house - Hillsdown. In 1981 it acquired Lockwood Foods Ltd which was in administrative receivership owing approximately £11 million to creditors. Lockwood Foods had canneries in Long Sutton and Forfar. In May 1987 David Thompson stepped down from Hillsdown Holdings, selling 50% of his shares and became a non executive director. In April 1989 he sold all of his shares.