One of the few pickles I regularly buy is 'Branston', which is an excellent product.
However, I now see that the company is to be sold to an Italian conglomerate called 'Newlat Food', who are willing to pay £700 Million for the pleasure.
But this huge sum is not being paid to a UK Co, but to Mitsubishi Corp who currently own the Co that was always known as 'Princes Group'.
Does it make any difference who owns a Co? I suppose as long as the product remains the same it doesn't matter too much, but I do like to think of a traditional British Co keeping, and re-investing, their profits in the UK.
So, other than Branston Pickle; Newlat Food now own Flora Margarine, Napolina canned Tomatoes, and Batchelors Soups; to name only a few.
I also see that our dearly beloved Post Office is to be bought by some Czech businessman called Daniel Kretinsky. Good luck to him!
And, imagine my shock when I heard that MG cars are actually CHINESE. Even KitKats aren't British anymore.
It's a sign of the times that most British Co's now seem to be owned by foreign conglomerates. Even our dear old 'National Treasure' Rolls Royce, and our much loved Minis, are both owned by German car-maker BMW.
Where will it end!
But will the product remain the same? We all recall the firm assurances given by Mondelez over the Cadbury chocolate range, only to be trashed the second the ink was dry on the contract, along with the assurances over locations of production and job security.
ReplyDeleteJob security is probably the worst result. Manufacturing costs in many other countries are far less than here. It makes sense for them to move, and the result is UK unemployment.
DeleteRolls has never been the same.
ReplyDeleteMy 'Compact Royce' is OK.
DeleteI'm fine with most "buyouts" except where it involves a brewery.... it remains fine whilst the new owners continue to brew on the site, use the original staff and above all, use the same water and don't tweak the recipe.
ReplyDeleteBut it never stays that way... the new owner starts brewing at a different venue with different water, the existing staff lose their jobs.... the new owner then starts tweaking the recipe to make it cheaper to produce... so, although the original brewery name remains, the beer in the bottle and very often the label change beyond recognition...
then a bigger conglomerate that actually has no interest in brewing [nor any knowledge of] buys out the new owner....
and the brewery name is but a ghost appearing on the label along with the name of the beer... which is, usually, a ghost of its former self!!
Sadly this doesn't only happen with beer, it's almost universal. Near to us in France we had a HUGE Parquet Flooring factory. It was bought by a Swedish Co who said all jobs were secure; then instantly closed down. It was devastating on the local community; it had been the biggest employer around.
DeleteSomehow it all seems distasteful and wrong. It may not matter who owns a Co but it matters who owns a Cro! And that is Lady Magnon who can do with you as she wishes. Bad boy Cro!
ReplyDeleteI'm no more than a plaything in her hands.
DeleteI am sure she is still giggling at your comment ,Cro.
DeleteI think I'd better pop out and buy a couple of big jars of Branston. The recipe is bound to be changed, or the line dropped in favour of something that appeals universally, rather than to one country.
ReplyDeleteAre there any manufacturing companies left in the UK now?
Every time I look in the paper, another Co has been bought by some foreign outfit. There can't be many actual British Co's left!
DeleteCorporate buy-outs are common today. Unfortunately the fall-out is usually job loss and lesser quality product. What new business is emerging in England? It is always good to see big new businesses starting in a country. Recently, big chip makers are building huge factories to ramp up to support AI in the US. The factories are already hiring and training people to fill jobs.
ReplyDeleteI would say that it's the same industries that are doing well here too. High Tec, AI, sustainable energy, etc, are all advancing apace.
DeleteBaxters of Fochabers is still family owned. They have resisted several take-over bids over the years. They still produce soup, jams and pickles to family recipes.
ReplyDeleteI do occasionally buy Baxters products. It's good to know they are holding-out against invaders.
DeleteI hope they don't change the recipe for Branston pickles. My son-in-law loves it too. And we can get it in our local supermarket. A real pity though that it isn't British anymore.
ReplyDeleteIt still looks and tastes the same as always. I just hope it remains that way.
DeleteI have found out about 3 days ago "BIMBO" bread co. owns and has bought several other companies you would know the names of. It is a Mexico based company with a U.S. branch. I don't know if any of the brands were British , but it wouldn't surprise me. I used Wikipedia to look it up the other day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a dreadful name for a Co. I shall (reluctantly) consult Wiki.
DeleteBranston is made in Bury St. Edmunds. The owners of Branston and Princes Foods have changed several times over the decades. If you continue to buy it it will be fine. If you buy cheap imitations from the Aldis and the Lidls of the world then gradually the brands come under threat. Unilever has so much cheap competition from Magnum imitations for instance that they can virtually make no profit at all on selling Magnum icecream and they are in the throes of selling it off from their main business. So as with everything, use it or lose it, or in the case of Branston, make sure you always buy the real thing.
ReplyDeleteWe always do, and that includes Magnums; a few of which are in the freezer at the moment. I would never buy an imitation Magnum, but I can imagine others being fooled by a dark brown pack.
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