Tyrrells Takeover

Upmarket snack firm Tyrrells to expand in North America following its takeover by a US firm.

18:17 17 October 2016

Upmarket snack firm Tyrrells, which was sold for £300million to Amplify Snacks in August 2016, will expand to North America and create hundreds of new jobs.

 

The Herefordshire-based maker of hand-cooked crisps employs more than 300 people in the UK.

 

The firm managing director, Mike Hedges, said that hundreds of people would be recruited globally over the next three years. He added that he did not think the UK leaving the EU would adversely affect business at the company.

 

"In 2008, during the last recession, none of the premium crisp brands suffered and I don't think they will this time either - if there is a downturn," said Mr Hedges.

 

"We have no business in North America and Amplify has no business over here," he said.

 

"They're going to take the Tyrrells brand and roll it out in North America and we'll take their SkinnyPop brand, and others, and do the same in the UK.

 

"We'll have to take on more staff to do that and I'd say that, over the next three years, we'll recruit hundreds globally."

 

Tyrrells was founded in 2002 by potato farmer William Chase. It bought Australian firm Yarra Valley Snack Foods last year and Germany-based Aroma Snacks this year.