Acquisition

Greencore Group PLC
23 August 2000



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GREENCORE ACQUIRES THE ROBERT'S GROUP FOR UP TO EUR48.1 MILLION,
BRINGING ITS RECENT INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS IN THE UK CONSUMER
FOOD SECTOR UP TO EUR84 MILLION.

Greencore Group plc ('Greencore') announces that it has today
acquired the entire equity of The Robert's Group Limited
('Roberts').   Roberts is a leading manufacturer of frozen
convenience savoury and dessert products in the U.K., supplying
most of the U.K.'s major multiples and food service suppliers. 
 It has expanded rapidly in recent years: turnover has grown from
Stg£5.1m (Eur8.3m) in the year ended 31 March 1998 to Stg£25.9m
(Eur42.2m) in the year ended 31 March 2000.   Operating profits,
before non-recurring items and goodwill, have grown from Stg£0.5m
(Eur0.8m) to Stg£2.7m (Eur4.4m) over the same period.  The net
assets of the company are Stg£2.9m (Eur4.8m).

Roberts operates out of two facilities, at Leeds and
Huddersfield, and employs some 460 staff.    New product
development has been one of the cornerstones of the growth of
Roberts, and a new research and development centre is currently
being built at its Leeds site.

The total consideration of Stg£29.15m (Eur48.1m) consists of
Stg£18.4m (Eur30.4m) at completion, comprising cash and loan
notes of Stg£10.2m (Eur16.8m) and assumed borrowings of Stg8.2m
(Eur13.6m), together with earnout payments up to a maximum of
Stg£10.75m (Eur17.7m) which will be made in the event of the
aggregate combined operating profits for Roberts being up to
Stg£10.4m (Eur17.2m) in the two years ending 31st March 2001 and
2002.  

Commenting on the acquisition, Greencore Chief Executive David
Dilger said:

'The acquisition of Roberts is very much in line with our
strategy to acquire businesses which, when combined with our
existing operations and management, have the capability to
develop further strong market positions in their sectors.

Roberts is a fast-growing company, with an excellent track record
and we anticipate ongoing topline and profit growth from the
business.    We are particularly happy that its entrepreneurial
management team, led by Steven Walker, which has been responsible
for its success to date, will be remaining with the business.

With our new state-of-the-art chilled pizza plant announced last
week and the acquisitions in April and May of William Rodgers and
the Stockton bakery of William Jackson, this brings our recent
investment commitments in the U.K. consumer food sector to up to
Eur84m, and reflects our determination to continue to expand our
fast-growing Food & Ingredients Division, which now accounts for
almost two thirds of our turnover.'


B.J. POWER
DIRECTOR & SECRETARY

GREENCORE GROUP PLC
ST. STEPHEN'S GREEN HOUSE
EARLSFORT TERRACE
DUBLIN 2