Nature’s Touch, a frozen organic and conventional fruit company based in Montreal, Quebec, has acquired certain assets of Placentia, California-headquartered Sunrise Growers’ SunOpta frozen fruit operations. According to an investor news brief at the SunOpta website, the aggregate purchase price was $141 million.
Founded in 2004, Nature’s Touch has established itself as a leading retail supplier of frozen organic and conventional fruits worldwide. It operates state-of-the-art freezing and packaging facilities in both Canada and the USA.
Sunrise Growers is a well known packer of private label frozen fruit products in the United States. Founded nearly 50 years ago, SunOpta manufactures supplies natural, organic and specialty products to foodservice channels as well as retail customers.
The United States market represents a significant growth opportunity for Nature’s Touch. Having recently invested in a new facility in Virginia to further its strategic goals, Nature Touch’s purchase of Sunrise Growers frozen fruit operations in Edwardsville, Kansas and Jacona, Mexico aligns with its vision of creating value for consumers through synergies in scale, product diversity, innovation, geographic reach, and growth prospects.
“The acquisition is more than just a business transaction, It marks a deliberate step towards a future that is more integrated, innovative, and impactful,” said Nature’s Touch CEO John Tentomas. “This puts us in the unique position of providing North American consumers with the most expansive network of freezing and distribution on the continent. Together, our combined strengths will propel us to new heights, quicker and with renewed vigor.”
