Pinnacle Foods liquidates Boulder Brands UK: 'We're focusing on the North American branded food business'

28-Nov-2016 - Last updated on 22-May-2017 at 13:38 GMT

Pinnacle Foods has liquidated the UK operations of its gluten-free subsidiary Boulder Brands according to UK government records, and is now auctioning off the assets.

Udi’s and Glutino brand owner Boulder Brands (now owned by Pinnacle Foods), acquired Davies Bakery in Flintshire (north Wales) in 2013 to use as a base to manufacture the Udi’s gluten-free brand and private label gluten-free items for leading supermarkets.

Speaking to our sister site BakeryandSnacks in February 2016, brand manager Holly Wales said the Udi’s Gluten free branded products were rolling out to a major new account – Morrisons – while additional product launches had expanded the UK range to 52 products listed in all of the major UK supermarkets.

Shortly afterwards, however, the brand was forced to recall selected products after a batch of sunflower seeds used in their production was found to be contaminated with sesame seeds, and in October, CFO Craig Steeneck confirmed that the “unprofitable” UK private label business was being wound down.

According to records on Companies House – a UK government agency that incorporates and dissolves limited companies, and registers the information they are legally required to supply – Boulder Brands UK appointed a liquidator on November 1, 2016.

The website of JPS Chartered Surveyors meanwhile, confirms that an auction of all raw materials and packaging at its facility in north Wales will end on Wednesday (Nov 30), while the auction sale of the plant and machinery will end on January 18, 2017.

Pinnacle decided to continue to focus on its North American branded food business

Pinnacle Foods did not explain its decision, or whether only the private label part of the UK business was unprofitable, but told FoodNavigator-USA this morning that: “As part of the merger with Boulder Brands in early 2016, Pinnacle acquired Boulder Brands UK Ltd. (“BBUK”), a dedicated gluten-free bakery operation in the UK focused on manufacturing gluten free private label products.

“After reviewing the BBUK business, Pinnacle decided to continue to focus on its North American branded food business and, accordingly, has ceased BBUK’s operations in the UK marketplace.”