Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/873281
Sara Kay is the editorial and education content associate for the Specialty Food Association. CALIFORNIA COMPANY BUYS OREGON WINERY Ponte Family Estate has acquired Hawks View Cellars, a bou- tique Oregon winery. Hawks View, located in Sherwood, produces Willamette Valley Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Ponte, a winery based in Temecula, Calif., will plant some new vineyards and change Hawks View's tasting room. The company also plans to expand business hours, offer wine club members-only events, and invest in improve- ments to the winery's facilities. CARDENAS MARKETS, MI PUEBLO MERGE Cardenas Markets and Mi Pueblo have combined their business- es and will operate as Cardenas Markets LLC. The company's 46 stores in California and Nevada will continue to operate under their respective banners, but now they will be managed under one executive team led by CEO John Gomez. Cardenas Markets plans to expand the company's footprint across other key Hispanic markets and has planned several new store openings over the next few years. KKR, a firm that made investments in the two Hispanic grocery chains, announced the merger, along with Victory Park Capital. Keystone Capital Acquires Nature Soy Keystone Capital has acquired Nature Soy Inc., a manufacturer of soy and vegetarian products. The co-owners of Nature Soy will con- tinue in the day-to-day operations and management of the business. Nature Soy provides products to ethnic markets throughout the East Coast and as far west as Chicago. DEAN FOODS ADDS ORGANIC JUICE COMPANY Dean Foods Co. has acquired Uncle Matt's Organic, an organic juice company. Uncle Matt's will continue operating from its offices in Clermont, Florida, as a subsidiary of Dean Foods. The acquisition follows Dean Foods' partnership with Organic Valley and its recent investment in Good Karma's plant-based beverage portfolio. Uncle Matt's Organic founder Matt McLean will join Dean Foods. Mars to Broaden Vegetarian Portfolio with Acquisition Mars Foods will acquire Preferred Brands International, a manu- facturer of ready-to-heat Indian and Asian foods sold primarily under the Tasty Bite brand. Tasty Bite's portfolio includes entrees, spice-and-simmer meal kits, and organic rice and lentils. Through the acquisition, Mars Foods will expand its all-natural vegetarian offerings in the U.S. and look to Tasty Bite's product-development platform, flavor expertise, and strategic ingredient sourcing. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2017. Hain Celestial Acquires Better Bean Co. Hain Celestial Group has acquired The Better Bean Co., a manufac- turer of prepared beans and bean-based dips. The acquisition will augment Hain Celestial's offerings in the perimeter of the store as part of its Cultivate Ventures portfolio. This is the first acquisition by Hain's Cultivate Ventures platform, which invests in smaller portfolio brands, lifestyle brands and concepts, and incubator opportunities in high-growth categories. article bug FALL 2017 81