Buy British to save jobs, says Premier Foods boss Michael Clarke
THE boss of Premier Foods called on “patriotic” shoppers to save jobs yesterday by buying more British-made food this summer.
Michael Clarke, chief executive of the Hovis Bread and Bisto group which sources 80 per cent of its ingredients from the UK, said people celebrating this summer’s Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics should “support British jobs, supply chains and farmers”.
He added: “Unemployment is at a high level but if we bought British in this year of celebration we could maybe stabilise it.”
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Clarke said Premier would launch Mr Kipling British Fancies this summer, with red, white and blue designs, as part of its drive and that its Hovis bread was already made with 100 per cent British wheat.
Unemployment is at a high level but if we bought British in this year of celebration we could maybe stabilise it.
Premier posted a 3.7 per cent sales lift, gaining share in its leading eight power brands, such as Oxo and Sharwoods helped by new television adverts. However, sales of branded products outside the top eight such as Branston Pickle fell 0.5 per cent. Total group sales rose 1.3 per cent to £427million. The group will continue its focus on cost cuts and sell-offs of non-core brands. Its shares fell ¾p to 15¾p.