M&As this week: Joyvio Group, Sovos Brands, Stonewall Kitchen

Joyvio Group has agreed to acquire a 94.47% stake in Australis Seafoods for $880m.

Joyvio Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Legend Holdings, while Australis Seafoods is a leading company in the salmon industry in Chile. Australis Seafoods produced 64,000t of salmon in 2017.

The acquisition enables Joyvio to allow the comprehensive implementation of its full seafood strategies. It will also generate synergies with Australis for better corporate development.

Sovos Brands has acquired Noosa yoghurt for an undisclosed amount.

Based in the US, Sovos Brands is a food and beverage firm, while Noosa yoghurt offers products made from whole milk, wildflower North American honey and real fruit purées.

The transaction enables Sovos to double its sales, expand its customer base and create larger infrastructure.

Noosa products will be manufactured at Sovos’ Bellvue facility in Colorado.

Deutsche Bank is the financial adviser to Noosa for the transaction. Weil, Gotshal and Manges are legal counsel to Noosa, while McDermott Will and Emery are legal counsel to Sovos.

Stonewall Kitchen has completed the acquisition of Spruce Naturals for an undisclosed amount.

Based in the US, Stonewall Kitchen is a producer of speciality foods, while Spruce Naturals is the parent company for Napa Valley Naturals and Montebello.

Napa Valley Naturals offers organic extra virgin olive oil, culinary cooking oil, Italian balsamic vinegar and aged wine vinegar, while Montebello is an organic pasta brand in Italy.

Costa Group has agreed to acquire the operations of Nangiloc Colignan Farm (NCF) for an undisclosed amount.

Based in Australia, Costa Group is a horticulture company, while NCF is involved in growing citrus and grapes in 567ha of land.

The transaction enables Costa to expand its total plantings to 2,996ha in the Riverland and Sunraysia regions of Australia.

Swander Pace Capital has completed the acquisition of Bäckerhaus Veit for an undisclosed amount.

Based in Canada, Bäckerhaus Veit is a producer of buns and soft pretzel products, while Swander Pace Capital is a private equity firm.

Bäckerhaus Veit will join Voortman Cookies and Pineridge Bakery, which are part of the growing Swander Pace Capital portfolio.

Veit will continue to be involved in the company’s business by serving as an active board member.

Duff & Phelps Securities Canada is the exclusive advisor to Bäckerhaus Veit for the transaction.

Siro and Cerealto have reached an agreement to merge their businesses and establish a multi-national group named Cerealto Siro Foods.

Cerealto Siro Foods will remain as a supplier to Mercadona and retain its clients in Spain and other global markets.

Siro offers its know-how in the food categories, whereas Cerealto delivers an international structure to the business.

Cerealto Siro Foods will have an estimated turnover of more than €600m ($684m) and will produce more than 400,000t by the end of the financial year 2018.

The group will discontinue their bakery and bread categories as they no longer fit into its strategy. The divestment covers bakery facilities in Briviesca (Burgos), El Espinar (Segovia), Navarrés (Valencia) and Medina del Campo (Valladolid), as well as the bread factories in Antequera (Málaga) and Paterna (Valencia).

Fuji Oil Holding, Inc has entered an agreement to acquire The Blommer Chocolate Company for $750m.

Based in Japan, Fuji Oil is a manufacturer and distributor of food products, while Blommer Chocolate is a producer and supplier of cocoa and chocolate ingredients.

The acquisition includes Blommer’s business entities, four manufacturing operations in North America and one in Shanghai.

BofA Merrill Lynch is the financial adviser, while Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is the legal counsel to Blommer for the transaction.