Ventura Foods to Acquire Dressings, Sauces, Mayonnaise Business from Cargill

BREA, Calif., May 3, 2016 /CNW/ -- Ventura Foods – a leading producer of custom and proprietary dressings, sauces, mayonnaises, oils and other flavorings – has reached an agreement to acquire the Dressings, Sauces and Mayonnaise (DSM) business of Cargill.

"The acquisition of Cargill's DSM business is a strong fit for Ventura Foods' strategy to grow, strengthen and diversify," said Ventura Foods President and CEO Chris Furman. "It further strengthens our innovation platform and leadership in consumer taste and preference trends."

The DSM business adds greater depth to Ventura Foods' already strong capabilities in the custom dressings, sauces and mayonnaise categories. Included in the purchase are Cargill's DSM facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida and substantially all the DSM manufacturing equipment at the Gainesville, Georgia and Sidney, Ohio facilities.

All 46 employees at the Port St. Lucie operation will be offered employment by Ventura Foods. The DSM equipment and business from Gainesville and Sidney will be relocated to Ventura Foods' facilities in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and Fort Worth, Texas. Cargill will provide contract manufacturing services for 15-18 months to Ventura Foods to ensure continuity for customers and a smooth transition to Ventura Foods.

"We are highly confident in our ability to successfully integrate this important business," said Furman. "We are particularly excited to welcome a number of the talented and experienced Cargill DSM employees ‒ with their reputation for high-quality, innovative product offerings and exceptional customer service ‒ to the Ventura Foods family."

About Ventura Foods

Ventura Foods is a leading producer of custom and proprietary dressings, sauces, mayonnaises, oils and other flavorings. Our customers include foodservice companies, restaurants and retailers. In addition, our consumer brands available at retail include Marie's dressings, LouAna oils, Dean's dips and Gold n' Soft spreads. The company – a privately held joint venture of CHS, Inc. and Mitsui & Co. with approximately $3 billion in annual revenue – has grown significantly in the past five years by fulfilling our mission of "helping our customers delight their customers."

About Cargill

Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 149,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160501/362089LOGO

SOURCE Ventura Foods

Brenda Hussey, [email protected], [phone], http://www.venturafoods.com