{{Short description|International food and drink group}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = Princes Group plc | logo = Princes Group logo.png | image = Royal Liver Building.jpg | image_caption = Royal Liver Building, Liverpool | type = Public company | traded_as = {{lse|PRN}} | industry = Food & Drink | founded = {{start date and age|1880}}, in Liverpool, England | founders = {{ubl|William M. Simpson|Frank Roberts}} | location = Royal Liver Building | hq_location_city = Liverpool | hq_location_country = England | num_locations = 11 production sites World Wide | area_served = World Wide | key_people = Angelo Mastrolia (chair)<br />Simon Harrison (CEO)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.princesgroup.com/blog/simon-harrison-appointed-as-princes-group-ceo/|title=Simon Harrison appointed as Princes Group CEO|publisher=Princesgroup.com |date=2024-04-09 |accessdate=2024-10-04}}</ref> | products = Fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, soups, pastes, pasta, cooking sauces, edible oils and soft drinks | production = | services = | revenue = {{increase}} £1,871.5 million (2025)<ref name=results>{{cite web |url=https://tools.eurolandir.com/tools/Pressreleases/GetPressRelease/?ID=7932309&lang=en-GB&companycode=uk-princ&v=r2025|title=Annual Results 2024|publisher=Princes Group|access-date=31 March 2026}}</ref> | operating_income = {{increase}} £76.0 million (2025)<ref name=results/> | net_income = {{increase}} £37.1 million (2025)<ref name=results/> | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = 7,000 (2025)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://princescareers.com/our-story/|title=Our story|publisher=Princes Group|access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref> | parent = | divisions = | subsidiaries = | website = {{URL|https://www.princesgroup.com}} }}
'''Princes Group plc''' is an international food and drink group involved in the manufacture, import and distribution of branded and customer own-brand products. Founded in 1880 and headquartered in Liverpool, England, it is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://research.ftserussell.com/products/index-notices/home/getnotice/?id=2617937|title=FTSE UK Index Series: Quarterly Review December 2025|date=3 December 2025|publisher=FTSE Russell|access-date=19 December 2025}}</ref>
== History == The firm was founded in 1880 as a partnership by Briton William Muirhead Simpson (1842-1926) and Canadian Frank Roberts (1853-1938) and initially imported tinned lobster from Canada. It operated as Simpson Roberts, then created brands including Maypole (1891), Mikado (1895) and Princes (1900). By 1915, Simpson Roberts was the world's largest exporter of lobster, handling one third of the world's lobster trade. In 1919, the partnership was incorporated as a limited company.<ref name="History">{{cite web |title=Building Scale: a history of Princes Foods |url=http://letslookagain.com/tag/history-of-simpson-roberts/ |website=Let's Look Again: a History of Branded Britain |access-date=21 March 2023}}</ref>
The company first entered continental Europe in 1960 and changed its name to Princes Foods in 1962.<ref name="History">{{cite web |title=Building Scale: a history of Princes Foods |url=http://letslookagain.com/tag/history-of-simpson-roberts/ |website=Let's Look Again: a History of Branded Britain |access-date=21 March 2023}}</ref>
In 1964, Princes was acquired by 'Trex' manufacturer J Bibby & Sons. In 1973, the combined business was sold to Italy's Buitoni group, which, in 1988 was acquired by Nestlé, with Princes then sold to Mitsubishi Corporation in 1989.<ref name="History"/>
As a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi, Princes completed several high-profile mergers and acquisitions that added significant scale to the business. In 2011 Princes acquired two East Anglian canning operations and the Crosse & Blackwell and Farrow's brands.<ref name="insidermedia1">{{cite web|url=http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/north-west/81859-/ |title=Insider News North West – Princes targets £2bn after record year |publisher=Insidermedia.com |date= |accessdate=2013-03-25}}</ref> In 2012 Princes Industrie Alimentari S.r.L. (PIA) was created and a processing factory in Foggia, Italy was acquired.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hodgson |first=Neil |url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/ldpbusiness/business-local/2012/05/03/princes-group-in-italian-production-deal-99623-30892988/ |title=Princes Group in Italian production deal - Business News - LDP Business |publisher=Liverpool Daily Post |date=2012-05-03 |accessdate=2013-03-25}}</ref> By 2013, the company was the UK's largest supplier of tinned food.<ref name="History"/>
In 2015 Princes Tuna (Mauritius) completed an agreement to create an enlarged tuna processing operation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.undercurrentnews.com/2015/01/12/princes-ups-profit-as-uk-sales-decline/|title=Princes ups profit as UK sales decline|date=12 January 2015}}</ref>
In 2018 Princes announced a business review after net profits fell to £0.5m;<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2018/02/19/Princes-reviews-business|title=Princes reveals business review|last=foodmanufacture.co.uk|website=foodmanufacture.co.uk|date=19 February 2018 |accessdate=11 January 2019}}</ref> in October 2018, Princes announced factories in Manchester and Chichester would close.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2018/10/11/Factories-to-close-as-canned-foods-business-automates|title=Factories to close as canned foods business automates|date=12 October 2018}}</ref><ref name=FM2019>{{Cite web|last=foodmanufacture.co.uk|title=Princes Manchester juice factory has £3.8m price tag|url=https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2019/04/26/Drinks-plant-sale-progresses|access-date=2022-12-04|website=foodmanufacture.co.uk|date=26 April 2019 |language=en-GB}}</ref> By 2020, the company employed 7,000 people globally, 2,200 of them in UK.<ref name="History"/>
However, in January 2023, Mitsubishi was reported to be considering selling the Princes Group,<ref name="Mattinson-11Jan2023">{{cite news |last1=Mattinson |first1=Alec |title=Princes owner in search of buyer as sales fall sharply |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/mergers-and-acquisitions/princes-owner-in-search-of-buyer-as-sales-fall-sharply/675208.article |access-date=21 March 2023 |work=The Grocer |date=12 January 2023}}</ref><ref name="Robinson-20Jan2023">{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Jon |title='No decisions made' on potential sale of food giant Princes after 'market speculation' |url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/no-decisions-made-potential-sale-26027461 |access-date=21 March 2023 |work=BusinessLive |date=20 January 2023}}</ref> and in March 2023 potential buyers, including Bain Capital-backed Valeo Foods and the Aurelius Group investment firm, were reported to be considering bids of around £400M.<ref name="Hodgson-17Mar2023">{{cite news |last1=Hodgson |first1=Neil |title=Takeover speculation continues with Princes Foods in sights of suitors |url=https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/2111871-takeover-speculation-continues-with-princes-foods-in-sights-of-suitors |access-date=21 March 2023 |work=The Business Desk |date=17 March 2023}}</ref>
In May 2024, Mitsubishi Corporation agreed to sell the business to Italian-based Newlat Food S.p.A ('Newlat'), encompassing all current operations and brands in an agreement valued at £700m.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-27 |title=Princes announces intended acquisition by Newlat Food S.p.A - Princes Group |url=https://www.princesgroup.com/blog/princes-announces-intended-acquisition-by-newlat-food-s-p-a/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> The purchase was completed in July 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.princesgroup.com/blog/newlat-food-s-p-a-completes-acquisition-of-princes-limited/|title=Newlat Food S.p.A Completes Acquisition of Princes Limited|work=Princes Group|access-date=2024-10-04|language=en}}</ref> In April 2025, Newlat Foods S.p.A. changed its name to NewPrinces S.p.A.<ref name="Q1-2025 Earnings Presentation">{{cite web |title=Newlat Food S.p.A Q1-2025 Earnings Presentation |url=https://www.newprinces.it/media-library/docs/805a94d6-f814-4ae7-b443-2b72f7a51207/Newlat-Food_Q1-2025-Earnings-Presentation.pdf |website=newprinces.it |publisher=newprinces.it |access-date=24 July 2025}}</ref>
Princes Group was the subject of an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange, valuing the company at £1.2 billion, in October 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/oct/31/tinned-tuna-firm-princes-for-london-market-ipo-stock|title=Tinned tuna maker Princes floats at nearly £1.2bn in boost for London|newspaper=The Guardian|date=31 October 2025|access-date=1 November 2025}}</ref>
==Headquarters== Princes Group has its headquarters at the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool. It has been based in the Liverpool landmark since 1982, with approximately 400 staff based there. Originally Princes Group was a tenant in the building, along with other companies.<ref>{{cite web | title=Offices – The Royal Liver Building | publisher=The Royal Liver Building |location=Liverpool|language=en-GB| date=8 February 2026 | url=https://royalliverbuilding.co.uk/offices/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260208182946/https://royalliverbuilding.co.uk/offices/ | archive-date=8 February 2026 | url-status=live | access-date=8 February 2026}}</ref> In July 2025 Princes Group announced that it had bought the Royal Liver Building outright in a £60 million deal. The company said that it would expand the use of the building to include external events, while maintaining existing arrangements with the other tenants for the time being.<ref>{{cite web | last=Burnell | first=Paul | title=Liverpool's Liver Building sold for £60m to Princes | website=BBC News | date=24 July 2025 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g8gjp240po | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729171628/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g8gjp240po | archive-date=29 July 2025|location=London|language=en-GB | url-status=live | access-date=8 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Princes Purchases Iconic Royal Liver Building | publisher=Princes Group|location=Liverpool|language=en-GB | date=21 July 2025 | url=https://www.princesgroup.com/princes-purchases-iconic-royal-liver-building/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260208182251/https://www.princesgroup.com/princes-purchases-iconic-royal-liver-building/ | archive-date=8 February 2026 | url-status=live | access-date=8 February 2026}}</ref>
==Operations== Princes' customers include major supermarkets, convenience stores, foodservice operators, wholesale suppliers and other food manufacturers. Its brands and products span over 20 different categories including fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, soups, pastes, pasta, cooking sauces, edible oils and a broad range of soft drinks sectors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Business-News/Premier-Foods-acquisition-boosts-Princes-sales-to-1.51bn |title=Premier Foods boosts food manufacturer's sales to £1.51bn |publisher=Foodmanufacture.co.uk |date= 17 December 2012|accessdate=2013-03-25}}</ref>
===Owned and operated brands=== Brands (*= licensed brands) which Princes manufacture and produce include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.princesgroup.com/brands/ |title=Princes : Our Brands |publisher=Princesgroup.com |date= |accessdate=2013-03-25}}</ref> * Batchelors Peas* – a brand that dates back to 1895 with a range that includes canned soups and peas (under licence from Premier Foods) * Branston Beans* – a brand well known for its store cupboard favourites such as baked beans and spaghetti in tomato sauce (under licence from Mizkan) * Crisp 'n Dry – popular UK vegetable oil brand * Crosse & Blackwell - canned food brand that includes favourites such as baked beans, soups, pasta, vegetables and ready meals * Farrow's – British-grown giant marrowfat processed peas * Flora* – popular sunflower oil brand * Jucee – popular squash drinks brand * Mazola - corn and speciality oil brand. Range includes corn, peanut, grapeseed, rapeseed and sunflower oils * Napolina - Italian-style ingredients brand. Range includes sun-ripened tomatoes to fruity olive oils, pasta and pasta sauces, as well as more specialist grated cheese, pulses and pizza products * Olivio* - cooking oil first launched in 1991, made with a blend of vegetable and olive oils * Princes – the Princes range now includes over 350 food and drink products including canned fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, microwavable ready meals, sandwich fillings and soft drinks * Trex – home baking brand which is a dairy-free alternative to butter * Vier Diamanten – popular Austrian canned fish brand * Wielkopolski – cooking oil used for frying, baking, salad dressings, and in cakes and desserts
===Production sites=== [[File:Princes, Lynn Road, Wisbech - geograph.org.uk - 4217181.jpg|thumb|Listed Art Deco factory building in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire<ref name="Wisbech factory listing">{{National Heritage List for England|num=1229023|desc=Smedley Canning Factory|grade=II|}}</ref>]] Princes operates 11 production sites situated in the UK, mainland Europe and Mauritius:
====UK food sites==== * Long Sutton, Lincolnshire – this site produces a range of canned products including baked beans, vegetables, fruit, pulses, pies, pasta, meatballs and ready meals * Wisbech – located in Cambridgeshire, this site produces canned and pouch products including baked beans, soups, pulses, pasta, vegetables and sauces.<ref name="Wisbech factory listing" />
====UK soft drinks sites==== * Cardiff – produces juice products in cartons * Bradford – this site produces squash and carbonated soft drinks * Glasgow – supplies canned soft drinks
====UK edible oils==== * Belvedere, London – located in south east London, this site produces olive and speciality oils * Erith – located in south east London, this site produces cooking oil
====International==== * Foggia, Italy – this factory is one of the most modern and efficient ambient tomato processing facilities in Europe<ref>{{cite web|title=Princes to double size of European revenues following acquisition of Italian tomato factory|url=http://www.princesgroup.com/news/princes-to-double-size-of-european-revenues-following-acquisition-of-italian-tomato-factory/|publisher=Princes Group|accessdate=28 January 2014|date=3 May 2012}}</ref> * Riche Terre, Port Louis, Mauritius – one of the most technologically advanced tuna processing facilities in the world<ref>{{cite web|title=Sourcing and Manufacturing|url=http://www.princesgroup.com/about-princes/sourcing-and-manufacturing/|publisher=Princes Group|accessdate=28 January 2014}}</ref> * Marine Road, Port Louis, Mauritius - a major processing facility producing tuna loins<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.princesgroup.com:80/about-princes/sourcing-and-production/princes-tuna-mauritius-marine-road/|title=Princes Tuna (Mauritius) Marine Road | Princes|website=www.princesgroup.com}}</ref> * Szamotuły, Poland – located in the north west region of Wielkopolska, this site primarily produces rapeseed oil.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.princesgroup.com Official website] {{FTSE 250 Index constituents}} Category:Food and drink companies of the United Kingdom Category:British companies established in 1880 Category:Companies based in Liverpool Category:1880 establishments in England Category:Mitsubishi companies Category:Food and drink companies established in 1880 Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies Category:2024 mergers and acquisitions Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange Category:Companies in the FTSE 250 Index