Poupart has agreed to sell its remaining foodservice operations to Fyffes Group for an undisclosed sum.

The deal, which will be completed on October 30, will see the assets of Poupart’s East Anglian-based distributive wholesaling division transfer to Fyffes. The business includes the Poupart branches in Bury St Edmunds and Norwich.

All existing staff will transfer to Fyffes to ensure a smooth handover for customers, suppliers and staff, said Laurence Olins, managing director of the Poupart Group.

“This is the remaining part our foodservice operations, the bulk of which we sold off in 2000. It is a non-core business to us and only represents around four per cent of our turnover.

“The deal is good news for everyone, we’re delighted with it, as it offers both customers and staff continuity and security, and at the same time it takes us out of an area which has become non-core to our business.”

For Fyffes, it increases the group’s portfolio and influence in East Anglia, as well as expanding its interests from the traditional secondary wholesaler and smaller retailer into catering.

The Bury St Edmunds branch will be retained, and the Norwich branch will be merged with Fyffes existing warehouse already operating out of Norwich and the strengths of both business will be built upon, said Fyffes.