I can't believe it
19 May 2003
Unilever is to sell its Van den Bergh Oils business in the UK to Pura Foods, a subsidiary of the Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), one of the world's largest processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa.
Van den Bergh Oils, located in Purfleet in Essex, supplies refined oils and fats to both Unilever Bestfoods' group companies and other UK food manufacturers. The business employs approximately 140 people.
The margarine factory owned by Unilever Bestfoods UK, which is situated on an adjacent site to the Van den Bergh Oils refinery, is not part of the sale. It will continue to manufacture the brands 'Flora', 'I Can't Believe It's Not Butter' and 'Olivio'. The margarine factory employs approximately 300 people.
Both companies expect to conclude the transaction by August 1, 2003, subject to receipt of the necessary regulatory approval.
