The deal strengthens Pilgrim’s UK pork supply chain and expands its portfolio with complementary branded and own-label products.
Pilgrim’s Europe, a subsidiary of JBS-backed Pilgrim’s Pride, will acquire UK pork firm Walkers Deli & Sausage Company for £141.5m ($191.4m) on a debt-free, cash-free basis. The transaction, outlined in an SEC filing, awaits regulatory clearance and is expected to close in September.
Walkers, founded in 1824, operates four manufacturing facilities in Leicester and employs around 1,150 staff. It supplies UK retailers with sausages, cooked meats, and snacking products, which Pilgrim’s described as “highly complementary” to its existing portfolio. Pilgrim’s Europe already supplies Walkers with pork, extending an established relationship.
Pilgrim’s Europe, with over 17,000 employees across 40+ sites in the UK, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands, produces fresh chicken, pork, and lamb, alongside ready meals and snacking lines under brands like Moy Park and Richmond.