Fruit d’Or, a Villeroy, Québec, Canada-based company specialized in the processing of organic and conventional cranberries and wild blueberries, has purchased Decas Cranberry Products, a family enterprise that has been rooted in the US State of Massachusetts for several generations.
The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, includes approximately 450 acres of cranberry bogs as well as a processing plant. The business will operate as an American subsidiary and keep its name, as well as the Decas Farms brand. Its corporate headquarters will remain in Carver, Massachusetts.
“This is a milestone in Fruit d’Or’s history. The transaction will ensure sustainable growth and achieve our vision for the future of the industry,” stated Martin Le Moine, Fruit d’Or founder and president. “We are proud to write our next chapters with Decas and to combine our expertise while leveraging our shared values of sustainability, innovation and respect.”
“This acquisition supports the objective of strengthening Fruit d’Or’s positioning and will help meet the high international demand for berries,” said Carl Blouin, the company’s executive vice president and chief executive officer. “To remain a leader in our field, we must constantly create new opportunities and focus on innovation. Together, we will be well positioned to bring our berries to new heights.”
A Family Affair
The Fruit d’Or story is one of partnerships and strong family values. Sustainability is also central to the company’s culture. Preserving natural resources in an environment where innovation and authentic relationships are privileged has always played an important role in Fruit d’Or’s way of conducting business.
Similarly, Decas Cranberry Products is a third-generation family enterprise founded in 1934 by Greek immigrant brothers. The company has stayed true to the values of its founders and is committed to quality, community and sustainability.
“This marks an exciting turning point for our company. Decas and Fruit d’Or have common values and the same commitment. I am thrilled with the opportunity this will provide our customers, growers and employees. We are happy to take this step forward and join forces with Fruit d’Or, and we’re confident about the future,” said Michael McManama, president and chief executive officer at Decas.
“The foundation of the cranberry business is farming. Fruit d’Or and Decas share a commitment to the land, and this is a perfect partnership. The Decas family knows that our growers and our employees will be in good hands. The legacy lives on,” remarked John Decas; second-generation owner, farmer and former president of the company.
In addition to harvesting cranberries from its own bogs, Decas sources berries from upwards of 150 independent farmers in the United States and and Canada. It supplies products to retail outlets and consumers as well as processed ingredients to food manufacturers in over 20 countries.
About Fruit d’Or
Founded in 2000, Fruit d’Or ranks first worldwide for growing organic cranberries, and second as an organic wild blueberry processor. Most of its berries come from established Quebec producers, and the company has five production sites across the province. This supply structure allows it to quickly and reliably distribute to more than 50 countries. In addition to a wide range of products intended for food processing, Fruit d’Or also offers product lines dedicated to the nutraceutical market as well as to consumers through the Patience Fruit & Co brand.
