Frozen food group Birds Eye has cancelled nearly half of its UK pea growers’ contracts following the sudden cancellation of an Italian export deal
By Chris Farnell
The cancellation will affect 180 farmers across Norfolk and Suffolk, something Birds Eye says is a source of "great regret" for the company.
A Birds Eye spokesperson said: “It is with great regret that due to the recent and sudden loss of a substantial export contract with Unilever in Italy, we are to cease pea production in the Lowestoft area. We have informed our grower and processing partners in Lowestoft and the five members of our agricultural team who will be affected. We will be working with them to minimise the impact. That is all the information we are able to announce at this early stage.”
Birds Eye, which is owned by private equity group Permira, did reassure farmers that the 230 pea growers across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Perthshire will not suffer from the cut backs.
The news will come as a massive blow to farmers across the Norfolk and Suffolk area, many of which have been supplying the frozen food giant since the UK’s first frozen peas were produced in Great Yarmouth 65 years ago.
Edited by Ellie Duncan
Source: http://www.birdseye.co.uk/