John West goes east in new deal
BRITAIN is set to lose ownership of another iconic brand after John West, the canned fish firm founded in 1810 by a Scot of the same name, yesterday agreed a £568 million deal with Thailand's largest tinned tuna producer.
Private equity firm Trilantic Capital Partners has struck a deal with Thai Union Frozen Products over MW Brands, which owns the John West Label. John West was founded by a Scot born in Linlithgow who set up canning factories in Oregon. The name was later bought by two Liverpool merchants then, in 1997, it was bought by food giant Heinz from Unilever. Heinz sold out to Trilantic in 2006.