The group manages four well-known vegan food enterprises that have become mainstays in many supermarket free-from categories. However, its UK operations now appear to be in significant decline.
Earlier this week, VFG officially announced the closure of its Clive’s Purely Plants facility, having effectively ceased operations shortly before Christmas, resulting in 32 job losses.
Surprisingly, this significant closure of the 40-year-old Devon brand came a mere few months after VFG invested £650K into upgrading its production facility.
In addition, Meatless Farm and Vegan Fried Chicken (VFC) announced their decision to separate from VFG, creating a new entity known as VFC Foods, which previously operated as a subsidiary.
Following these developments, VFG will retain only its Tofutown brand, which has also been adversely impacted by the group’s broader challenges. Notably, 60% of its production staff in Lüneburg, Germany, have been laid off, alongside additional resignations.
In an interview with The Grocer, VFG chairman Matthew Glover declined to address specific questions about the company’s future or the total number of job losses, but he stated: “Decisions were made in the interest of creating a permanent, profitable operation to produce and distribute sustainable plant protein across Europe.”
This wave of job eliminations follows a significant board restructuring in September, which saw the departure of group CEO Dave Sparrow, after five years, alongside CFO Phil Eden, who left within a year to pursue “new professional opportunities.”