Foodservices provider Compass Ireland has agreed to acquire the family-owned Glanmore Foods, expanding its footprint in food-services within the education sector. Blanchardstown-based Glanmore Foods will retain its business brand, current management team and all employees, as well as existing operations facilities and suppliers.
Completion of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval.
Glanmore Foods is Ireland’s largest manufacturer and supplier of school lunches. The company services 400 Primary and Secondary schools, which are part of the DEIS programme, with nutritious packed lunches, hot meals, and healthy snacks. It operates on-site cafeterias in 42 schools, as well as supplying the national ‘Food Dudes’ healthy eating scheme that is managed by Bord Bia.
Commenting on the acquisition Deirdre O’Neill, Managing Director of Compass Ireland, said:
“We are delighted that Glanmore Foods will join our Compass Ireland family. Glanmore Foods is a fantastic business, which is passionate about children’s health. While it will be business-as-usual from an operations perspective, with a relentless focus on providing a best-in-class food experience for children and schools, the future potential for our shared expertise is exciting. As well as opportunity to improve the supply chain, client service, range and value, there will be additional business potential for local Irish food producers. This acquisition is a unique opportunity for Compass Ireland, which is on a dynamic growth journey.”
In March this year, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, announced that every child in a DEIS primary school will get a hot meal from September 2023, benefiting 64,500 children. Minister Humphreys also announced the roll-out of hot meals to all remaining primary schools by 2030, with the roll-out commencing in 2024. The move is based on an ‘overarching recommendation’ following evaluation of the school programme conducted on behalf of the Department of Social Protection this year. Glanmore Foods will continue to focus on helping the Department of Social Protection to meet these recommendations.
Welcoming the development, John Mooney, Managing Director, Glanmore Foods, added:
“Glanmore Foods has state-of-the-art food manufacturing facilities including a bakery and fruit packaging facility, all of which operate to the highest standards. Combined with the professional resources of Compass Group, our complementary operations represent an exceptional business operation set for extensive growth.”
The long-standing senior management team at Glanmore Foods will continue to head up the new Compass Ireland school meals division. The collaboration brings together a wealth of operational expertise and resources, that will help increase the delivery of hot, nutritious meals to children across Ireland.
Deirdre O’Neill concluded: “The potential to educate the next generation around healthy and sustainable eating is at the core of Compass Ireland’s business values. Promoting affordable healthy eating is a key objective, and part of Compass Group’s social and climate promise, which we combine with sustainable sourcing from local food producers.”
The acquisition is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
