SASKATOON – A famous Saskatchewan family feud involving the province’s largest meatpacking company appears to be over.
The Mitchells, sole owners of Intercontinental Packers, say they have patched up their differences after a messy court battle over control of one of Saskatoon’s largest private businesses.
The reconciliation signals the end of a public family dispute that came to a head when Fred Mitchell, who ran Intercon for 19 years, stepped down from his post as president and chief executive officer in 1995.
Now Fred is back on the job. He’ll run the company as director and vice-chair of its board with brother Chip, president and chief executive officer of Intercon.
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“We are all very happy it is behind us,” said Fred. “This is a great opportunity to grow hogs and a great opportunity to kill hogs.”
Expected to thrive
“The other members of the family are pleased that the matters have been resolved and I am confident that the company, under the new management structure, will thrive,” added Chip.
The family’s agreement ends all litigation under way and removes the injunction freezing the family trust which controls Intercon. It also ends speculation the Mitchells might sell the meat processing company to Burns Foods to end the fighting, Fred confirmed.
Details of the agreement were not divulged.
The feud heated up last March when Fred Mitchell launched court action to sue his brother, sister and mother for $2.5 million for allegedly taking advantage of his health problems to force him out of the job.
The family countered, claiming it was Fred who tried to take control shortly after his mother, Johanna, had open heart surgery.
Fred filed a second suit March 20 to win control over the company. It was after the second suit that the other family members tried to sell Intercon.
