Liverpool Tinned Tuna Giant Plans Stock Market Launch
Written by Harry Turnbull
The food company based alongside the River Mersey is making waves far beyond the kitchen cupboard. Princes, the Liverpool-based food giant, has announced plans to float on the London Stock Exchange in a blockbuster move that could value the business at £1.5 billion.
The firm, headquartered in the city’s iconic Royal Liver Building, says the listing marks a bold new chapter in its 145-year journey from dockside canned food importer to international food empire. With roots dating back to 1880, Princes has become a household name thanks to staples like Napolina pasta, Branston beans, and trusty tins of tuna.
The listing comes hot on the heels of Princes’ £60m purchase of the Royal Liver , a deal hailed as a love letter to Liverpool. Angelo Matriola, executive chairman, said “Our decision to pursue a listing in London marks a pivotal moment in the history of Princes.” The firm earned £13.3m in pretax profits last year but has already achieved £37.8m in the firtst half of this year.
Princes was snapped up last year by Italian food group Newlat for £700m, and now boasts a £2.1bn turnover, exporting to over 60 countries. Its portfolio includes big-name brands like Flora, Batchelors, Naked Noodle and Vier Diamanten, and it operates 23 production sites across Europe and Mauritius.
With HSBC backing the Liver Building deal and CBRE advising, Princes is clearly cooking up something big — and Liverpool is right at the heart of it.
