McCain acquires Chinese food plant in Asia; promotes executives. (Asian-style Frozen Food Products).
1. McCain acquires Chinese food plant in Asia; promotes
executives. (Asian-style Frozen Food Products).
Frozen potato products giant McCain Foods Limited has extended its
reach--in terms of both product line and geography--with the July 1
takeover of Goodman Fielder International (Taiwan) Limited. The
acquisition gives the company its first manufacturing plant in Asia.
The operation, which employs about 200 workers, is the largest
producer of frozen Chinese dumplings in Taiwan and the second largest
manufacturer of ethnic Chinese frozen foods. Production takes place at a
5,451 square meter facility in Chishan (near Kaohsiung), while general
management offices are situated in Taipei.
"This modest acquisition is a natural extension of our
international frozen food business into the Asian market. The products
complement the global development of our appetizer range," said
Harrison McCain, chairman of McCain Foods Limited.
Basil Hargrove, ceo of McCain Asia Pacific, expressed confidence in
the continued growth and success of the operation as part of the McCain
Group of companies. "This acquisition increases our presence in the
region and is a natural fit with our other operations, he commented.
Managing Directors Named
2. McCain Foods recently promoted three of its own to the position of
managing director for operations in Europe and South Africa.
Taking the helm as Central and Eastern Europe managing director was
Richard M. Bartlett. He reports to Folkert Sneep, ceo for Northern
Europe.
Now based in Strezelin, Poland, the 14-year company veteran
previously served as president of McCain International. He has held a
number of other posts in the organization, ranging from director of food
service marketing for McCain Foods USA to director of export sales for
Latin America and the Middle East.
Christophe Rigo has been named managing director of Beaumarais SA
in France. He is responsible to Jean Bernou, ceo for Southern Europe.
Meat Recipes
Rigo was employed in food production and quality control for
several firms for nine years prior to joining McCain Alimentarie in
1994.
Owen M. Porteus has been named managing director of McCain Foods
South Africa (Pty) Ltd. He reports to Geoff Calder, managing director of
PAS (Grantham) Ltd.
The Tasmania native, who joined McCain Foods Australia in Smithton
3. 18 years ago, has performed a variety of jobs for the company, working
his way up from production manager.
Replacing Bartlett as president of Florenceville, N.B.,
Canada-headquartered McCain International is Kal Bockmann. Previous
posts held include director of chain accounts for McCain USA and
director of global accounts.
Meanwhile, a 13,800 square meter cold storage facility is opening
for business this summer at the McCain Alimentaire SA Matouges french
fry facility in France. The coldstore contains 15,000 pallet positions
and is equipped with mobile racks and eight loading docks.
"This facility will allow us to effectively distribute our
products to countries in southern Europe with relative transportation
ease," said Philippe Thery, plant manager.
