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2 Sisters Food Group to sell its Christmas pudding-maker

THE 2 Sister's Food Group (2SFG), run by multi-millionaire businessman Ranjit Singh Boparan is reportedly seeking a buyer for its Christmas pudding-making facility.

The business is apparently auctioning Matthew Walker, a pudding manufacturer which supplies retailers such as Aldi and Asda, as it struggles to contend with a series of debts.


According to reports, advisory firm Stamford Partners has been appointed by 2SFG to handle the sale process, which is expected to reach £80 million.

The 2SFG website states the business directly employs about 120 people. The group has struggled in recent times as it decreased its operations in the wake of a food standards scandal in 2017.

An investigative report by ITV and The Guardian uncovered a number of breaches in food hygiene standards at the company's West Bromwich poultry processing site, leading to the suspension of production at the facility for five weeks.

The company sold pizza brand Goodfella's for around £200m and its red meat operations to an Irish manufacturer for an undisclosed sum last year.

In December 2018, the group also sold off a child sandwiches, wraps, and rolls unit to Samworth Brothers.

2SFG, which was founded in 1993, supplies poultry products to some of the country's major supermarket chains, including Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi, and WI.

Boparan, known as the 'the chicken king' stepped down as CEO of 2SFG, after 25 years.

This year's Eastern Eye Asian Rich List-published by the Asian Media Group valued Boparan at £585m.

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London tourist levy

The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024

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London to introduce tourist levy that could raise £240 million a year

Kumail Jaffer

Highlights

  • Government expected to give London powers to bring in a tourist levy on overnight stays.
  • GLA study says a £1 fee could raise £91m, a 5 per cent charge could generate £240m annually.
  • Research suggests London would not see a major fall in visitor numbers if levy introduced.
The mayor of London has welcomed reports that he will soon be allowed to introduce a tourist levy on overnight visitors, with new analysis outlining how a charge could work in the capital.
Early estimates suggest a London levy could raise as much as £240 m every year. The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give Sadiq Khan and other English city leaders the power to impose such a levy through the upcoming English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. London currently cannot set its own tourist tax, making England the only G7 nation where national government blocks local authorities from doing so.

A spokesperson for the mayor said City Hall supported the idea in principle, adding “The Mayor has been clear that a modest tourist levy, similar to other international cities, would boost our economy, deliver growth and help cement London’s reputation as a global tourism and business destination.”

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