Tiffin Sandwiches is continuing to extend its food-to-go manufacturing business across the UK through the acquisition of PJ’s Foods.
The deal for the Scottish sandwich maker, which operates a purpose-built factory at Chapel Street Industrial Estate in Glasgow’s Maryhill district, was made for an undisclosed fee.
PJ’s Foods has been trading since 1996. According to its website, it currently employs 85 people and supplies between 85,000 to 90,000 food-to-go products per week to education institutions, hospitals, retail units, in-flight caterers, stadiums, councils, and sporting events within Scotland. Among its range are plain, classic, and deep-fill sandwiches, rolls, wraps, flatbreads, bloomers, sourdough baguettes, toasties, and paninis, as well as gluten-free bread.
Tiffin said the deal signalled a significant milestone for the company, building on its strong presence in the healthcare, education, and travel sectors in England and Wales. Last September, it revealed it was looking to double capacity through the building of a new 50,000 sq ft factory in Bradford adjacent to its existing production site on Commondale Way, near the M606. It also has another facility in Chester.
While 400 jobs are expected to be created at the new Bradford site, set to cost at least £8m, Tiffin noted it plans to recruit more staff for new roles in Glasgow supported by plans to “invest significantly” in the modernisation of the factory. This includes upgrades to machinery, logistics, and training aimed at boosting efficiency and capacity, it said, helping to reinforce the company’s commitment to sustainable growth rooted in the local economy.
“This acquisition is about more than just expanding our operations – it’s about embracing the values and quality that PJ Foods represents,” commented Mark Salisbury, Director of Tiffin Sandwiches. “We are incredibly proud to be investing in Scotland, a country renowned for its vibrant food and drink sector. By joining forces with PJ Foods, we’re combining national scale with local heart.”
The manufacturer said it would aim to maintain and enhance use of locally sourced ingredients by continuing to work with Scottish suppliers and championing the region’s rich food provenance. “Our business is proudly labour-intensive, which enables us to create and sustain meaningful employment,” said Salisbury. “We’re excited to build on PJ’s Foods’ outstanding local reputation, grow the team, and invest in skills and infrastructure that will benefit the community for years to come.”
Tiffin did not respond to a query on whether the existing workforce and management in Glasgow would be retained following the transaction. However, filings on Companies House last week showed that Scott Cherry and Julie Smith had ceased their roles as directors. “We’re deeply grateful to Scott and Julie, the founders of PJ’s Foods, for their decades of hard work in building such a strong and well-respected business,” added Salisbury. “Their support during this transition period is invaluable, and we look forward to continuing their legacy as we grow together.”
While Tiffin is growing its own UK food-to-go empire, a £4bn mega-merger is on the horizon between manufacturers Greencore and Bakkavor. The latter has just requested an extension to the deadline for the potential offer to allow terms and conditions to be finalised.
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