Dole Food agrees to divest fresh cut businesses to BAMA International

Global producer and distributor of fresh fruit and vegetables Dole Food has agreed to divest its subsidiaries Saba Fresh Cuts and Saba Fresh Cuts to BAMA International.

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed by both companies.

The two subsidiaries are engaged in the production of washed and ready-to-eat salads.

The companies prepare and sell various fresh-cut salads and vegetables to retail and foodservice industry in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany and the Baltic States.

BAMA Group CEO Rune Flaen said: “We are pleased to announce this agreement with Dole for Saba Fresh Cuts. Convenience products and ready-to-eat salads and vegetables is a fast-growing category in all markets, and Saba Fresh Cuts is a solid and very professional player, with a strong organisation and high-quality products.”

Saba Fresh Cuts was divested by the company in order to fulfil the necessary condition set by the European Commission to approve the investment by Total Produce into Dole in July.

Dole Food Company president and CEO Johan Linden said: “I am very pleased with the outcome of this sale in meeting the EU’s requirement, and I am confident that Saba Fresh Cuts will be in good hands under BAMA’s ownership.”

Subject to approval by the European Commission, the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year.

For this transaction, Dole was advised by investment bank and financial services company Houlihan Lokey.