Bakkavor Group, the UK-headquartered provider of fresh prepared food, has opened two new factories in the US as part of a strategy to accelerate its international expansion.
Working in close partnership with one of its key customers, the US retailer HEB, Bakkavor has built a site in San Antonio, Texas, which will soon supply a range of fresh meals for the supermarket chain, increasing supply through 2019.
The facility was opened by Martin Otto, COO of HEB, and Ivan Clingan, president and CEO of Bakkavor USA.
Bakkavor has also inaugurated a new factory in Charlotte, North Carolina, which will shortly start to supply a range of artisan breads, including focaccias, flatbreads and dough balls across the US.
The company said the fresh prepared food market in the US is “significantly underserved compared to the UK”, and, as such, presents an opportunity for it to strengthen its customer offer, developing its presence and building key relationships with retailers.
Bakkavor Group CEO Agust Gudmundsson said: “Bakkavor’s core strategy of delivering sustainable long-term growth includes developing our businesses both in the UK and internationally through strong customer partnerships and our leading expertise in the fresh prepared food market.
“These two investments represent a key part of this strategy and we look forward to delivering new and exciting products to US consumers.”
Bakkavor provides four categories of fresh prepared food: meals, salads, desserts, and pizza and bread. Its international segment has operations in the US and China, supplying both retail and foodservice customers.
Earlier this year, it acquired UK-based desserts company Haydens Bakery from Real Good Food for £12 million.
Source: FoodBev
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