TYSON Foods Inc. announced last week the acquisition of Circle Foods LLC, a manufacturer of frozen and refrigerated handheld Mexican foods, including burritos, chimichangas, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos and tamales.
The products also include Indian flatbreads and uncooked tortillas, the announcement said.
The acquisition, from Claridge Inc., was completed June 1, the announcement said. Terms were not released.
Circle Foods, headquartered in San Diego, Cal., has been in business for 25 years and markets under the Nuevo Grille, Tortillaland and Rotiland Indian flatbreads brands. The company has a modern plant in San Diego and employs 600 people.
Tyson said it intends to retain the existing management and production team and does not plan any "significant" change in operations.
Circle Foods "will be an excellent fit within our branded consumer products group" and will expand Tyson's value-added foods portfolio, Tyson chief executive officer and president Donnie Smith said.
"We believe that our robust sales structure, as well as our frozen and refrigerated foods distribution system, will enable this business to accelerate its growth," Smith said.
Claridge is an equity investment firm based in Montreal, Que.
Tyson, headquartered in Springdale, Ark., is the largest chicken integrator and the second-largest beef and pork processor in the U.S. and markets meat and poultry to customers throughout the U.S. and 130 other countries.
The company has 115,000 employees who work at more than 400 facilities and offices around the world.
Tyson reported fiscal 2012 sales that totaled $33.278 billion.
Volume:85 Issue:23