Church Brothers Buys Growers Express’ Commodity Vegetable Business
February 13, 2019 Salinas, CA-based Church Brothers has acquired Growers Express‘ commodity vegetable business. As part of the deal, it also now owns the licensing agreement “to extend the Green Giant Fresh brand to new varieties in partnership with Growers Express,” its press release says.
More specifically, Church Brothers now owns the growing, harvesting, and selling of field-packed vegetable commodities branded under the Green Giant Fresh license. Growers Express still owns the value-added segment of its business, which developed the brands Cauliflower Crumbles, Vegetable Noodles, and Green Giant Fresh Vegetable Bowls.
The sale frees up Growers Express to expand its innovations and its marketing programs, says Growers Express CEO Jamie Strachan.
“We’ve been serving the commodity category for 30 years, so it was vital we find a partner that allows for seamless continuity for our farming operations, and Church Brothers Farms is an ideal partner,” Strachan says.
As a result of the sale, the Growers Express commodity sales team will transition to Church Brothers Farms before the end of the desert winter growing season.
Church Brothers Farms’ annual production will increase by 15% to 20% due to the acquisition.
“This move increases efficiencies and leverages the strengths of both organizations,” Brian Church, CEO of Church Brothers Farms says. “There will be no overlap of customers by combining these programs; our existing program is predominantly food service and Growers Express’ is retail. Existing customers of both companies can be assured their designated volume is still in place, just shifting all under one company.”
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