Pork Farms is a well-known brand in the UK, famous for its delicious pork pies and baked meat products.
But have you ever wondered who owns this iconic company?
With a rich history dating back to the early 1940s, Pork Farms has undergone several changes in ownership over the years.
From humble beginnings as a small pie shop, the company has grown to become a major player in the UK food industry.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history of Pork Farms and explore who currently owns this beloved brand.
So, grab a cup of tea and settle in for an informative read!
Who Owns Pork Farms?
Pork Farms has had a long and interesting journey since its inception in the early 1940s. The company was founded by a City and Guilds qualified baker named Ken Parr, who received a £9,000 loan to open his own pie shop. Parr quickly developed a reputation for good baking and created the first “original” pork pie based on an old recipe, with signature dark and crispy pastry.
Over the years, Pork Farms has changed hands several times. In the mid-1960s, food tycoon W. Garfield Weston bought Parr’s business and made him Chairman. In 1969, rival Nottingham pie company TN Parr bought out Pork Farms, bringing together the two companies under the Pork Farms brand. In 1972, Pork Farms bought rival Holland’s Pies.
In 1971, the group was floated on the London Stock Exchange as Pork Farms Ltd. However, in 1978, the company faced financial difficulties and was sold to Northern Foods after the Samworth family agreed to sell their shares to the group. Later merged by Northern with both Palethorpes of Market Drayton and Bowyers of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, to form Pork Farms Bowyers.
In 2001, the company sold the Bowyers and Palethorpes pork sausage business and brands to the Kerry Group to concentrate on baked meat products. In 2007, private equity firm Vision Capital bought Pork Farms.
Today, Pork Farms is owned by Addo Food Group, which is a subsidiary of Vision Capital. Addo Food Group is a leading producer of chilled savoury pastry products in the UK and includes other well-known brands such as Wall’s Pastry and Tottle Bakery.
The Early Days Of Pork Farms
Pork Farms has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a pie shop in the early 1940s. The founder, Ken Parr, was a skilled baker who received a loan of £9,000 to start his own business. He quickly gained a reputation for his delicious baking and created the first “original” pork pie using an old recipe, with a signature dark and crispy pastry.
The company continued to grow and change hands over the years. In the mid-1960s, food tycoon W. Garfield Weston bought out Parr’s business and made him Chairman. The company was later sold to Northern Foods in 1978 after facing financial difficulties. Pork Farms was merged with Palethorpes of Market Drayton and Bowyers of Trowbridge, Wiltshire to form Pork Farms Bowyers.
In 2001, the company sold its pork sausage business and brands to the Kerry Group to focus on baked meat products. Private equity firm Vision Capital acquired Pork Farms in 2007, and it is now owned by their subsidiary, Addo Food Group.
Despite its many changes in ownership, Pork Farms has remained committed to producing high-quality pork-based bakery products that are loved by customers across the UK.
Changes In Ownership Over The Years
The pork industry has seen significant changes in ownership over the past few decades. The industry has shifted from small-scale operations where farmers raised hogs from birth to slaughter to large-scale operations that focus on only one or two stages of the hog’s life cycle. Most states in the Midwest now allow meatpacking companies to own hogs and contract with farmers to house and feed them. However, Nebraska is one of the last states to prohibit this practice as a way to protect family farms.
One notable acquisition in the American meat business was when Perdue Farms, one of the nation’s biggest vertically integrated poultry companies, purchased Niman Ranch, a mission-driven pork, beef, and lamb supplier in 2015. This acquisition was met with concern from critics of big agribusiness who feared that being folded into a larger company would spell the end of Niman Ranch’s mission. However, enough time has passed to look back at the legacy of the acquisition and determine whether Perdue has kept its promise to sustain Niman’s mission.
Another example of changes in ownership is Smithfield Foods, a U.S. company that provides more than 40,000 American jobs and partners with thousands of American farmers. The company was founded in Smithfield, Virginia, in 1936 and was acquired in 2013 by Hong Kong-based WH Group, a publicly traded company with shareholders around the world.
Moreover, state laws have changed to limit when and how hog-farm neighbors can file nuisance lawsuits and restrict punitive damages. In North Carolina, for instance, a nuisance lawsuit must be filed within a year of when the farm is established or any “fundamental change,” which does not include changes in ownership, technology, product or size. Punitive damages are only allowed if the farm operator has a criminal conviction or has received a regulatory notice of a violation.
Pork Farms Today: A Major Player In The UK Food Industry
Pork Farms has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a pie shop in Nottingham. Today, it is a major player in the UK food industry, producing and distributing mainly pork-based bakery products. The company is now a subsidiary of Addo Food Group, which is owned by private equity firm Vision Capital.
Addo Food Group is one of the largest producers of chilled savoury pastry products in the UK, producing over 287 million packs of products each year. The company employs more than 2,500 people and operates six sites across the UK. In addition to Pork Farms, Addo Food Group also produces other well-known brands such as Wall’s Pastry and Tottle Bakery.
Under the ownership of Addo Food Group, Pork Farms has continued to innovate and expand its product range. In 2015, it launched the Too Good to Be range of gluten-free sweet and savoury pastry products, which have been well received by consumers. The company has also invested in product innovation and expansion into new markets through organic growth and potential acquisitions in adjacent markets.
Despite its success, Pork Farms and Addo Food Group have faced criticism from animal welfare advocates who argue that factory farming practices are harmful to pigs and contribute to deforestation and loss of wildlife habitats. However, the company has stated its commitment to improving animal welfare and sustainability practices.
The Future Of Pork Farms: Plans And Projections
The future of pork farms is constantly evolving, with projections and plans for growth and sustainability. According to the Livestock Marketing Information Center, pork production is expected to decline slightly in 2023. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is more optimistic about the industry’s growth potential, citing potential productivity growth from increased litter size or heavier hog weights.
In response to consumer demand for sustainable and nutritious food products, the National Pork Board has launched its Pork Cares Farm Impact Reports program. Over 300 operations have enrolled in the program, which quantifies the industry’s progress and identifies cost savings while promoting positive environmental outcomes. Sharing these results helps build trust and protect the freedom of pig farmers to operate.
The U.S. pork industry is already making strides towards sustainability, with a low carbon footprint and a focus on pig welfare. The industry only accounts for 0.4% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the National Pork Board’s 2021 Sustainability Report. Pork producers have reduced their carbon footprint by 7.7% over the last 50 years, thanks to environmentally friendly practices.
In China, companies like Yangxiang are pushing the boundaries of pig farming with multistory buildings that can house thousands of pigs. These buildings prioritize biosecurity and sophisticated cleaning and disposal systems, potentially offering a solution to pandemics like African swine fever.
Finally, like the cattle cycle, the hog business also experiences production cycles that can impact prices and inventory levels. Farmers respond to economic changes by either increasing or decreasing production, leading to expansion or contraction phases in the pig cycle.
