total produce

Total Produce has acquired Bradford Market-based wholesaler Burbank Produce.

FPJ can reveal the news on what is a busy day for Total Produce, which earlier today announced it is spending $300 million on a 45 per cent stake in Dole.

Today's moves suggest a new wave of acquisitions at the company, which again topped the FPJ Big 50 Companies list in December with a UK turnover of £507.4m.

Total Produce UK & Ireland managing director Francis McKernan told Fruitnet: 'Burbank is avery fine, long-established family business built by the well-respected Kershaw family. We expect it to be very much business 'as usual' going forward and are delighted to be welcoming our new colleagues in Burbank into the Total Produce family.'

Burbank was incorporated in 2001 and trades fruit and vegetables on Bradford St James Market. The company had a turnover of £24.9m in the year to 29 July 2016, with a pre-tax profit of £346,897.

Shares in Total Produce Plc reached 220p on the London Stock Exchange as of 12.30pm on 1 February, up from 161.5p a year ago as the company continues to seek out new investment opportunities.