UK retailer Asda has acquired two of its meat suppliers.

The retailer confirmed in a statement that after a five-year joint venture partnership with Max Smith-Hilliard’s Forza AW Ltd and Kober Ltd, it has acquired the two businesses. Both are based in Yorskshire and have exclusively supplied Asda since 2011. Forza produces cooked meats and Kober produces bacon.

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The transaction was made through Asda’s wholly owned importer, Internal Procurement & Logistics, IPL.

Nick Scrase, IPL CEO, said: “Our one defining strategy that drives our business model is to simplify supply chains by cutting out the middle-man and then passing these cost savings onto Asda customers. We have had a hugely successful partnership with Max Smith-Hilliard over the last five years which has driven significant savings and created a world-class business which we are proud to be bringing into the IPL family. Max has worked hard to build these businesses and he will therefore join IPL to run our protein division.”

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