Pilgrim’s Europe has agreed to acquire Walker’s Deli & Sausage Company from Samworth Brothers for approximately £141.5 million, strengthening its position in the UK’s premium pork, deli and prepared-foods market.
Pilgrim’s Pride is expanding its presence in the UK food sector with the proposed acquisition of Walker’s Deli & Sausage Company, in a deal valued at approximately £141.5 million on a debt-free, cash-free basis.
The agreement was announced on 17 August 2026 by Pilgrim’s Europe, the European business of US-listed Pilgrim’s Pride. Completion is expected in September 2026, subject to approval from the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and employee consultation requirements.
The transaction will see Walker’s become a wholly owned subsidiary of Pilgrim’s.
A strategic move into premium pork
Walker’s Deli & Sausage Company is a specialist UK manufacturer producing premium sausages, cooked meats, bacon, pâté and snacking products, supplying both branded and private-label products to the UK market.
The acquisition gives Pilgrim’s greater exposure to value-added pork categories at a time when consumers and retailers continue to demand convenient, ready-to-eat and premium food products.
Importantly, the two businesses already have an established commercial relationship. Pilgrim’s currently supplies some of the raw pork used by Walker’s, meaning the proposed acquisition would bring an existing supplier relationship further into the Pilgrim’s operation.
Ivan Siqueira, President of Pilgrim’s Europe, said the transaction would strengthen the company’s integrated supply chain, expand its presence in attractive premium pork categories and enhance its ability to serve customers across the UK.
Walker’s: a long-established Leicester business
Walker’s has a long history in British food manufacturing, dating back to 1824.
The company operates four manufacturing facilities on a single site in Leicester and employs approximately 1,150 people. Its product portfolio spans sausages, cooked meats, bacon, pâté and snacking products, serving the retail market through both private-label and branded products.
The acquisition therefore brings not only production capacity but also an established workforce, customer relationships and expertise in several important categories within the UK chilled-food market.
For Pilgrim’s, this represents another step in the development of its European prepared-foods platform.
Pilgrim’s growing European footprint
Pilgrim’s is already a major player in the UK and European protein market.
The company says it employs more than 62,000 people globally and operates food and protein-processing facilities across the US, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the UK, Republic of Ireland and continental Europe.
Its European operations have expanded significantly over recent years through acquisitions, including the £680 million purchase of Kerry Consumer Foods’ meats and meals business announced in 2021. That transaction brought major brands and prepared-food capabilities into Pilgrim’s European portfolio.
The Walker’s deal continues that strategy, with the company moving further toward higher-value, prepared and branded food categories rather than relying solely on primary protein production.
Samworth Brothers reshapes its portfolio
For Samworth Brothers, the sale represents a strategic decision to concentrate investment on other areas of its food business.
The family-owned British food group has said that proceeds from the transaction will allow it to focus capital on growth opportunities in areas including food-to-go, savoury pastries and prepared meals.
Samworth Brothers has more than 12,000 employees and annual turnover of approximately £1.8 billion, making the Walker’s disposal a significant portfolio decision for the group.
What the deal means for the UK food industry
The acquisition highlights the continuing consolidation of the UK food manufacturing sector, particularly in categories where scale, supply-chain efficiency and product innovation are increasingly important.
For Pilgrim’s, Walker’s offers an opportunity to combine an established UK manufacturing operation with its broader European distribution network and customer base.
For Walker’s, becoming part of a larger international protein company could provide additional resources and access to a wider platform while maintaining its position in established UK categories.
The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval and employee consultation, so completion is not yet guaranteed.
If approved, however, the £141.5 million acquisition will mark another important step in Pilgrim’s strategy to build a larger and more diversified value-added food business in Europe.
For the UK meat and prepared-foods industry, the deal is another clear signal that premium, convenient and value-added protein categories remain a major focus for international food groups.
Source: Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation announcement, 17 August 2026; company filings and market reports.