Kerry, the Irish ingredients, flavours and consumer foods group, has expanded its business in the US with the acquisition of two food ingredients businesses there for $67 million (€61.9m).
Guernsey Bel is a leading manufacturer of inclusions for frozen desserts and other growth areas in the sweet products sector, while Pacific Seasonings produces meat seasonings for the meat, prepared foods and foodservice industries.
Guernsey Bel operates from two modern manufacturing facilities located in Chicago and in Hayward, California and is a leading innovator and provider of value-added ingredients and inclusions technology for the premium ice cream, breakfast cereal, bakery, nutritional bar and confectionery industries.
Commenting on the acquisition of Guernsey Bel, Hugh Friel, Kerry's managing director, said that the company had been building up its sweet ingredients business in the US since 2000, focusing on customised confectionery products and specialist extrusion technologies.
"The acquisition of Guernsey Bel further extends our technological and customer base in this dynamic sector and significantly expands our market presence through the provision of indulgence and texture components in particular for frozen dessert and premium ice cream applications," he said.
Pacific Seasonings operates from two manufacturing plants in Seattle and Detroit and supplies the requirements of food processors and foodservice providers, developing a strong market presence through national restaurant chains in the US.
Friel said: "The business will assist the further development of Kerry's seasonings business in North America and in particular through its West Coast location will provide a major boost to Kerry's business in that region of the US market."
He added: "In addition, the Seattle-based operation is organic certified which is ideally positioned for growth in the world's largest market for organic products."
The two latest acquisitions follow fast on the heels of the purchase of SunPure, a leading manufacturer of natural citrus flavours and ingredients mainly for the beverage industry.