HJ Heinz has announced plans to divest its frozen ready meals manufacturing site in Dundalk, Ireland, to The Authentic Food Company for an undisclosed sum.
The Dundalk factory employs 155 people and produces the WeightWatchers from Heinz, Ross and Heinz Big frozen ready meal ranges.
Heinz's staff will be transferred to The Authentic Food, which will continue to manufacture the products, under a three-year co-pack arrangement.
The Grocer quoted Authentic Food as saying that it had plans for the continued expansion of its retail and foodservice business both in the UK and continental Europe "with the enhanced capability and capacity the site acquisition delivers."
Heinz will continue working closely with The Authentic Food Company to further develop the WeightWatchers from Heinz range, in addition to reviewing future opportunities for Heinz in frozen category.
Earlier this month, Heinz has opened its new $70m infant cereal production plant in Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China, a move that will create 200 new jobs.
The new plant, which is the company's largest infant cereal production plant across the globe, features drum dryers, powder handling systems and packaging machinery from Andrtiz Gouda, GEA Group, and Bosch.
Image: Weight Watchers Smart Ones Morning Express Egg, Sausage and Cheese Smart Morning Wrap. Photo: courtesy of Business Wire.
