THE future of the Heinz factory in Okehampton remains in the balance after the food group was last week reported to be reconsidering the sale of its European frozen food business. The Financial Times said Heinz was weighing up its options after failing to get the price it wanted, believed to be around £200m. The Heinz factory, based on the Exeter Road Industrial Estate and employing 400 staff, was put up for sale along with the rest of the frozen food business last September. Heinz head office in Pittsburgh announced its decision to sell the frozen food arm of the business so it could focus on core products such as sauces. Potential buyers are said to have considered the price too high, given the weak rate of growth in the frozen food sector. Heinz acquired the factory when the firm bought United Biscuits Frozen and Chilled Food business in 1999.
