UNITED KINGDOM.
FINDUS FOODS.
The shock news that Findus Foods are in receivership and that 420 people are going to lose their jobs, has rocked the meat industry for the old timers, who recall how Findus changed the cow market of England.
Today they are better known for their pancakes with mince beef and the lean cuisine range of frozen meals.
45 years ago they pioneered the frozen beef burgers alongside Birdseye Foods and before McDonalds and Burger King were on the map.
The only retail burger restaurants were the Wimpy Bars, and the burgers were in fact 40% rusk and only 60% meat, unlike the 100% beef patties of today.
Findus used to buy carcass cows with a minimum weight of 181 kilos per carcass with the fillet taken out. The prime cuts were used for sliced beef in gravy and the balance went into burgers.
Today McDonalds demand steer beef and use the chuck and blade for burgers, only the highest quality beef goes into burgers today a far cry from 40 years ago.
