Seneca acquires Burnette’s maraschino cherry business in US

US-based packaged fruits and vegetable provider Seneca Foods (Seneca) has acquired Burnette Foods (Burnette) maraschino cherry business in Traverse City, Michigan, for an undisclosed price.

The acquisition will enable Seneca to further enhance its existing maraschino operations as well as allow Burnette to expand its core business.

With its facilities located across the US, Seneca sources its products from 2,000 American farms and distributes them to more than 90 countries across the globe.

Its products are sold under various brands, including Libby’s, Aunt Nellie’s, Green Valley, CherryMan, READ, Seneca Farms, and Seneca labels.

Seneca Foods president and CEO Kraig Kayser said: “Burnette maraschino business has a history of providing quality maraschino cherry products to their customers.

“We are very excited about this acquisition as it is a nice complementary fit with Seneca’s existing cherry business.”

Based in Michigan, US, Burnette Foods is a family owned business, which produces and distributes its shelf-stable fruit and vegetable to major retailers, wholesale food producers, and the USDA.

Burnette Foods CEO William Sherman said: “We are pleased to be able to sell our maraschino business to a high-quality food producer as is Seneca.

“Maraschinos are a small part of our total sales and this transaction will enhance our ability to concentrate on our core business lines of shelf-stable fruit fillings, apple products, vegetables, and juices.

“We will continue to explore new products for our existing red tart and dark sweet cherry offerings.”