Wolverhampton-based food company 2 Sisters has purchased Vion's red meat and poultry business in the UK.

2 Sisters has not been involved in the red meat sector before. The company is a major poultry meat processor, with 13 manufacturing sites in the UK, one in the Netherlands and one in the United States. The group also owns a range of food brands.

Vion, the EU's largest meat processor, currently has 11 processing sites across the UK and employs around 6,000 people. However, last year, the group's operators announced they planned to withdraw from the UK to focus on businesses in the Netherlands and Germany.

NFU President Peter Kendall welcomed the change of hands. He said on Monday, "Since the sale announcement by Vion in November, there has obviously been a degree of uncertainty for farmer suppliers, so this acquisition will come as good news and will help offer some reassurance to farmers across England and Wales.

"The purchase will safeguard a key supply chain for high quality British beef, lamb and poultry and the NFU will be arranging a meeting with 2 Sisters to help build a profitable future for British livestock farmers ."