Two companies, which will continue to be managed independently at the beginning, operate under the umbrella of the More than Meals management holding company. Abbelen is a leading German manufacturer that is responsible for producing more than half of all rissoles and ready-made hamburgers for the own-brand ranges of major supermarket and discount chains in Germany and its neighbouring countries. The company runs a state-of-the-art factory employing around 600 people in Tönisvorst (North Rhine-Westphalia).

Oscar Mayer is the market-leading manufacturer of chilled ready meals in the United Kingdom, which is by far the biggest and most innovative market for these products in Europe. The company has four sites in England and Wales. With around 2,650 employees, it produces more than three million chilled ready meals and snacks a week for the own-brand ranges of leading retailers and discount stores.

The companies that belong to the More than Meals group plan to expand the range of innovative products they offer and to make their activities, which are currently focused largely on the individual domestic markets, more international. The focus will also be on operational improvements, for example, by automating production processes. The More than Meals platform should be complemented through the acquisition of further companies with a leading position in their national markets and whose products can also be marketed in more than one country.

Abbelen’s revenues are expected to be lower than originally planned and slightly lower than in the previous year. The development of new products was delayed and thus not yet contributed to revenues, contrary to expectations. Earnings are expected to reach the previous year’s level.

Oscar Mayer’s revenues in the 2018/2019 (31 March) financial year once again are expected to significantly exceed the previous year’s figure. In an accommodating market environment, the company was able to further expand business with its most important customers. Due to this, Oscar Mayer also expects its earnings to increase compared to the previous year.

Over the coming financial year, Abbelen and Oscar Mayer will be pushing ahead with optimising their operational processes. More efficient production should lead to a decrease in costs and create additional capacities as the basis for further growth. In view of the sustained growth in business with important existing and new customers, Oscar Mayer forecasts a significant increase in revenues and earnings for the 2019/2020 financial year. Revenues and earnings at Abbelen are also expected to rise in the coming year.