Deals this week: Crop One Holdings, KKR & Co, Cake Box

Crop One Holdings has formed a $40m joint venture (JV) with Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) through its subsidiary FreshBox Farms.

The JV will develop a vertical farming facility in Dubai, UAE. The 130,000ft² plant will produce high-quality, and pesticide-free produce in a controlled environment.

The facility’s location will enable efficient delivery of freshly harvested products that are high in nutritional value. The JV also aims to reduce transportation-associated emissions.

The JV aims to increase Crop One’s production and enable Crop One to become one of the world’s biggest vertical farmers.

Construction of the facility will start in November 2018 and be completed within a year.

Based in the US, Crop One Holdings provides a technology platform for indoor growing, while Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) is an in-flight catering service provider based in the UAE.

KKR & Co has agreed to purchase PT Unilever Indonesia’s margarine and spreads business for $210m.

PT Unilever Indonesia is a consumer goods manufacturer and distributor. Following the transaction, its margarine and spreads business will be managed by KKR’s subsidiaries.

The divestment was initiated by Unilever following a takeover bid from Kraft-Heinz in February 2017.

Cake Box plans to raise £17m ($22.4m) through an initial public offering.

Based in the UK, Cake Box specialises in egg-free fresh cream cakes.

Delivery Hero Group has divested the operations of its Switzerland-based brand Foodarena to Takeaway.com.

Based in the Netherlands, Takeaway.com is an online food delivery marketplace, while Delivery Hero Group is an online food-delivery service based in Germany.

The transaction will strengthen Takeaway.com’s market position in Switzerland.

Decernis has acquired The US Pharmacopeial Convention’s (USP) Food Fraud Database, which provides information and advisory services regarding food adulteration.

Based in the US, Decernis provides technology and content solutions for product compliance and risk management.

The deal will enable Decernis to combat intentional food adulteration, while enabling USP to focus on the development of food chemicals codex (FCC) and FCC standards.