In January, Calavo Growers, a global avocado industry provider based in Santa Paula, Calif., said it would explore the sale of its fresh-cut division — formerly RFG — to F&S Fresh Foods.
Now, F&S Fresh Foods, a family-owned and operated fresh food manufacturer, says it has completed the purchase of Calavo’s fresh-cut business. The company said it had partnered with RFG for more than 17 years to service retail customers in the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest.
F&S Foods acquired five of Calavo’s production facilities in Clackamas, Ore.; Sacramento, Calif.; Riverside, Calif; Houston; and Conley, Ga., according to a news release.
“We’re excited to meet our new customers and share with them the solutions and features that F&S proudly offers,” said Sam Pipitone, founder and CEO of F&S Fresh Foods. “Through fresh innovation, deep relationships, and integrated operational excellence, F&S Fresh Foods delivers an unparalleled customer experience and improves consumers’ lives from farm to family.”
F&S Fresh Foods operates sister companies Pipco Transportation, a 50-plus truck operation that delivers products throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, and Mid-Eastern Cold Storage, a 150,000 square-foot warehouse with blast freezing and frozen storage capabilities, the release said.
F&S Fresh Foods produces retail products under company-owned brands, Sam’s Fresh Salsa and Garden Pure, as well as apple products licensed under the Mott’s label and bagged vegetable products licensed under the Green Giant Fresh label. F&S Fresh Foods said it also produces a variety of private-label, fresh-cut, retail-ready produce, bagged vegetables, apples, meal kits, meal sides and behind-the-glass salads. The company said it offers fresh-cut, individual quick freezing, purees and brined products on the industrial front.
F&S Fresh Foods said the purchase enables it to reach customers from coast to coast across North America. The company said it plans to build on the strong innovation capabilities and service orientation of its existing team and current RFG team members to extend many of F&S’s current product offerings to the production facilities it acquires.
F&S Fresh Foods plans to collaborate closely with customers to introduce new offerings and capabilities tailored to its customers’ needs, according to the release.
