Express & Star

2 Sisters seeking a new chief executive

The troubled 2 Sisters Food Group, which is shutting factories in the Black Country, is searching for a new chief executive.

Published
Ranjit Singh Boparan

Ranjit Singh Boparan, the co-founder, owner and chief executive of the Birmingham-based food giant is stepping up to become the Boparan Hioldings group's new president.

Mr Boparan, who has led the company for 25 years, said: “I am fully committed to building a better, more transparent business, modernising our company and simplifying our operations. I want to take a broader industry leadership role and concentrate more on the issues and challenges that affect not only our business, but also the food sector in general such as Brexit, social responsibility and sustainability.”

Charles Allen, chairman of Boparan Holdings, said: “Ranjit has spent 25 years of his life building a world class food business. He has been a catalyst for change within the food industry, by challenging the norm and providing our customers and consumers with great service, great quality food, and great prices. In his new role, he will be playing to his strengths, looking at new opportunities and reducing debt that will help take the business to new levels of success.”

The process has been put in place to find a new chief executive for 2 Sisters Food Group and both external and internal candidates will be considered.

Martyn Fletcher in his capacity as chief operating officer, reporting to the board, will be responsible for the operations of the business until an appointment is made.

Mr Boparan added: “These changes are the right ones to make at a very important stage in our business’s history and they help secure strong foundations for future development and growth. These are further major transformative steps in a journey to build a better business with a world-class leadership team.”

The group is currently consulting over the closure of 2 Sisters chicken processing factories in Wolverhampton and Smethwick with around 500 workers facing losing their jobs.

Staff at the sites – the oldest cutting and packing factories in the food group – are being offered the opportunity to move to the West Bromwich site at Howard Street Industrial Estate, Hill Top.

The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee also held an inquiry into the food group’s actions after an undercover report claimed slaughter dates were being changed to extend the shelf life of meat at its West Bromwich plant and poultry was being put back on the production line after being dropped on the floor.

2 Sisters is also planning to close its Cambuslang site in Scotland with up to 450 jobs at risk.