Premier Foods Launches Three Strategic Business Units

16 Sep 2014 --- Premier Foods has announced the launch of three ‘Strategic Business Units’ (SBUs) as part of its plan to focus on big growth opportunities in the UK market. The move also presents a more agile working style, according to the company, and it allows for a more streamlined approach to developing its brands overseas.

Premier, which has key brands such as Sharwood’s, Oxo and Mr Kipling, has named its three SBU’s ‘Grocery’, ‘Sweet Treats’ and ‘International’. The three will each have full accountability for its own portfolio and for marketing, sales, innovation, manufacturing and logistics.

“Given the major structural changes taking place in the UK grocery market, it is important we stay ahead of the game and re-focus our organisation on the most promising growth opportunities and delivering what our customers and consumers want,” said Premier Foods ceo Gavin Darby. 

“By implementing a focussed and more accountable business unit structure, I believe we will improve our agility and rate of innovation.”

The company has appointed new heads of each business. Alex Whitehouse, who brings years of experience from Reckitt Benckiser, will be md of the ‘Grocery’ business, Graham Hunter, previously ceo at Tangerine Confectionery, is md for ‘Sweet’ and Peter Ellis is general manager for the ‘International’ business. Ellis became the director of international at Premier in 2012. 

The Grocery division includes brands such as Loyd Grossman, Sharwood’s, Batchelors, Oxo and Bisto. Sweet division includes Mr Kipling, Lyons and Cadbury, while the third sector will focus on growing sales in key expansion markets such as Australia, the USA and China. 

The latest move is the next step in Premier’s restructure plans after it successfully secured its £1.1bn capital refinancing deal in March this year. 

In January it agreed a joint venture with Gores Group for its Hovis brand while in June it announced another joint venture with Specialty Powders Holdings to produce its powdered goods.