Cargill To Sell Dressings & Sauces Division To Ventura Foods

Ventura Foods on Tuesday announced plans to acquire the dressings, sauces and mayonnaise division of agribusiness giant Cargill for an undisclosed price.

Ventura, a California-based joint venture between Minnesota co-op CHS Inc. and Japan's Mitsui & Co., will take over the Fontina sauce, Gold Crest mayonnaise and Excel barbecue sauce brands, along with a Cargill plant in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Ventura plans to offer jobs to all 46 Cargill employees in Port St. Lucie.

The transaction also includes manufacturing equipment at Cargill's facilities in Gainesville, Ga., and Sidney, Ohio. Those operations will be moved to Ventura plans in Chambersburg, Pa., and Fort Worth, Texas.

Cargill will also provide contract manufacturing to Ventura for 15 to 18 months to ensure "continuity for customers and a smooth transition."

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