AKRON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE) — Country Pure Foods®, one of the nation’s largest independent juice packaging companies, announced today it has purchased the portion juice and juice concentrate business and certain assets related thereto, from Fruitbud Juice, LLC. The acquisition further expands the sales footprint of Country Pure Foods and will also allow customers acquired from Fruitbud to have access to the company’s broader juice offerings, including its new and emerging V Blend® line of juices that meet USDA vegetable menu planning guidelines.
“The acquisition gives us the opportunity to extend our sales reach and expand our market share,” said Raymond K. Lee, President and CEO of Country Pure Foods. This will be the sixth acquisition led by Mr. Lee since the original merger and formation of Country Pure Foods, and its second acquisition under Mistral Equity Partner’s ownership. Country Pure Food’s most recent acquisition was in 2012 when it acquired Cal-Tex Citrus.
The customers will be assimilated into the existing operations of Country Pure Foods, as no plant operations were acquired. Country Pure Foods will continue to produce under both Private Label, Ardmore Farms, as well its other brands in its existing facilities in Akron, Ohio; Ellington, Conn.; Deland, Fla.; and Houston, Texas.
Country Pure Foods is a portfolio company of Mistral Equity Partners. Mistral acquired Country Pure Foods in August 2010, and the acquisition of the Fruitbud business further illustrates Mistral’s stated objective to rapidly grow Country Pure Foods’ business through acquisition and product innovation.
About Country Pure Foods
Country Pure Foods is the nation’s premier independent juice company, formed by joining four outstanding companies: Natural Country Farms of Ellington, Connecticut; Ohio Pure Foods of Akron, Ohio; Ardmore Farms of DeLand, Florida; and Cal-Tex Citrus Juice of Houston, Texas. Combined, our company has over 200 years of experience providing fresh juice, packaging and distribution solutions to the food service, retail and contract packaging industries. We support our product lines with national distribution, superior customer service and the highest quality manufacturing in the country. Country Pure Foods is SQF (Safe Quality Foods) Certified Level 3, the highest level attainable.