By Wasana Nadeeshani
(Commonwealth) _ Following the announcement of a strategic relationship, Grimsby seafood might soon be available in Singapore stores. Hilton Food Group, the firm behind two massive processing factories and a smoke house in town, has signed into a long-term partnership arrangement with Country Foods Pte Ltd.
One of Singapore’s top food importers, distributors, and producers, SATS is a completely owned subsidiary of SATS, Asia’s premier provider of food solutions and gateway services. When it comes to providing “Singaporeans with the opportunity to buy high quality, fantastic value products produced from Hilton’s global manufacturing sites,” the FTSE-listed UK giant highlighted seafood alongside slow cooked meats, Australian beef, lamb, and pork products in an announcement to the City.
Hilton purchased the merged Seachill and Coldwater businesses in 2017, and last year added Dutch processor Foppen. This summer, it unveiled a first phase of development on South Humberside Industrial Estate, as part of a big investment after its shift into seafood from a red meat legacy honed in Huntingdon and now active internationally.
“This long-term, strategic relationship with Village Foods is also another step forward in our aim to develop our worldwide presence and diversify our company across Asia and globally,” said Philip Heffer, group CEO. We are well positioned to meet the rising need for high quality, cheap associated proteins in Singapore and beyond, thanks to our comprehensive selection of red meat, seafood, sous vide, vegan, and vegetarian goods.
HSH Coldstores has agreed to pay £16.5 million for ACS&T Logistics. The couple runs the bulk of the town’s temperature-controlled storage, the majority of which is dedicated to the seafood industry and employs hundreds of people. HSH dates back to 1970 and is now part of the European Constellation Cold Logistics company after a majority interest purchase early last year. The Howard family, lead by the late entrepreneur lorry driver John Howard, built the £15.5 million revenue enterprise. It all started with a single vehicle under the name John T Howard. As the firm grew, two coldstores were established in Birchin Way and on South Humberside Industrial Estate until it was sold in 1996 and then acquired again in 2002. HSH also operates in Redditch.
Group CEO Philip Heffer broke the ribbon on a multi-million-pound extension of office space and employee amenities at the South Humberside Industrial Estate facility. It will be followed by the £20 million ‘Project Polar,’ which will see the introduction of the notable automated cold store and warehousing complex that has appeared near the town’s A180 entrance, one of three industrial sites operated by the corporation in Grimsby. It comes with the goal of doubling the company’s size.
It is presently run by the second generation, with Anthony Howard as managing director.
The purchase is set to finalize next month, with ACS&T turning over £22 million in 2021, breaking even after the national LGV driver shortage impacted profits as volumes grew. The first six months of 2022 had a £600,000 profit on a £13 million turnover. ACS&T will also pay Camellia a £3.8 million pre-completion dividend. Chairman Malcolm Perkins stated that the funds will be utilized to support the company’s strategy of focusing investment activity on core agriculture activities such as global tea, apple, and avocado production. HSH is “one of the UK’s top providers of temperature-controlled storage and distribution systems,” he said.
With the addition of the Europarc, HSH’s capacity will increase to roughly 140,000 pallet slots, up from 50,000 in Grimsby, with a further 30,000 in the works. The £33 million project, which includes greener fleet growth, is expected to be completed in early 2024.
As previously reported, post-Brexit import anxiety about just-in-time delivery has resulted in increased demand for cold storage – a critical component of the cluster since it provides solutions before and after processing, managing raw material, ingredients, and final product.
