Bonduelle Group has sold two production plants specializing in the manufacturing of ready-to-eat salads in Germany to Taylor Farms and Foodiverse.
“By making this strategic acquisition, our goal is to enhance the fresh packaged salad sector and ensure our customers receive innovative and healthy products,” Bruce Taylor, chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms, said in a news release. “We look forward to serving customers in Germany and across Europe.”
Foodiverse, with its European business operations, will manage all activities for the unified businesses and will strengthen Foodiverse’s position in the German market, with the partnership of Taylor Farms, according to the companies.
Three German production sites in Straelen, Reutlingen and Thurland will operate under the corporate brand name Greenfresh. Foodiverse’s production plant in Thurländer Salate specializes in private-label and ready-to-eat salad production, the release said.
“The integration of these two plants into our group reinforces our commitment to growth in the healthy food sector,” said Joaquín Ballester, president of Foodiverse. “The combination of experience, top talent and our great capacity for innovation will allow us to continue to lead the fresh food sector and offer the best service to our customers throughout Europe.”
With the acquisition, Foodiverse says it will have a global workforce of 2,650 employees, nine production plants and 2,700 hectares of managed farmland.
When announcing its intent to sell in August, Bonduelle Group said it had faced a structural decline in salad consumption in France and Germany for the past 10 years, exacerbated by inflation and increased competition from private labels.
Aside from selling the salad operations in Germany, Bondulle Group also said it planned to streamline offices of Bonduelle Frais France and work with Les Crudettes to sell its packaged salad business in France.
