Ventura Foods to Acquire Cargill's Dressings, Sauces, Mayonnaise Business

Ventura Foods—a producer of custom and proprietary dressings, sauces, mayonnaises, oils and other flavorings—has reached an agreement to acquire the Dressings, Sauces and Mayonnaise (DSM) business of Cargill.

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

The DSM business adds greater depth to Ventura Foods' already strong capabilities in the custom dressings, sauces and mayonnaise categories. Included in the purchase are Cargill's DSM facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and substantially all the DSM manufacturing equipment at the Gainesville, Ga., and Sidney, Ohio facilities.

All 46 employees at the Port St. Lucie operation will be offered employment by Ventura Foods. The DSM equipment and business from Gainesville and Sidney will be relocated to Ventura Foods' facilities in Chambersburg, Pa., and Fort Worth, Texas. Cargill will provide contract manufacturing services for 15-18 months to Ventura Foods to ensure continuity for customers and a smooth transition to Ventura Foods.

"We are highly confident in our ability to successfully integrate this important business," says Furman. "We are particularly excited to welcome a number of the talented and experienced Cargill DSM employees—with their reputation for high-quality, innovative product offerings and exceptional customer service—to the Ventura Foods family."