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GOURMET NEWS JANUARY 2015 www.gourmetnews.com Specialty Distributors & Brokers SPECIALTY DISTRIBUTORS & BROKERS 1 3 BRIEFS Pinnacle Foods Inc. recently announced that it has entered into a definitive agree- ment to acquire Canada-based Garden Pro- tein International Inc., the rapidly-growing manufacturer of the plant-based protein brand gardein™, from Founder and Presi- dent Yves Potvin and TSG Consumer Part- ners LLC, a leading strategic equity firm. Gardein is an innovator in the fast growing plant-based protein segment, with a line of award-winning frozen products that serve as alternatives for traditional animal-based pro- tein formats, such as chicken strips and ten- ders, ground beef and fish fillets. As one of the fastest-growing frozen health and well- ness brands in the United States, Gardein en- joys exceptional velocity trends across both traditional and non-traditional retailers, in- cluding the natural and organic channel. Commenting on the announcement, Pin- nacle Foods Chief Executive Officer Bob Gamgort said, "The acquisition of Gardein is a key enabler to continue building Birds Eye into the leading health and wellness brand focused on helping Americans eat more vegetables. By bringing Gardein under the Birds Eye umbrella, we will ac- celerate growth through expanded distri- bution, marketing and innovation." Gardein is expected to generate net sales of approximating $57.8 million in 2014. The acquisition includes a manufacturing facility in Vancouver, British Columbia, and nearly 250 employees. Pinnacle plans to invest significantly be- hind Gardein in 2015 to continue to expand the brand and leverage the complementary positioning of Gardein and Birds Eye in the marketplace. As such, Pinnacle expects the addition of Gardein to have a minimal pos- itive impact on its earnings in 2015. In more than 85 percent of American households, consumers reach for Pinnacle Foods brands. The company is a leading producer, marketer and distributor of high quality branded food products. Headquar- tered in Parsippany, New Jersey, the busi- ness employs an average of 4,400 employees. It is a leader in the shelf-stable and frozen foods segments. Gardein is a plant-based protein brand offering a variety of delicious, convenient and versatile foods. Gardein tastes good, is good for you and good for the planet. The fastest growing brand within the category, Gardein creates center-of-plate foods peo- ple love that deliver real meat taste, texture and nutrition – with no cholesterol and less fat and calories than traditional proteins. Gardein's award winning products are made from non-GMO soy and wheat, an- cient grains and vegetables. Gluten-free op- tions are also available. GN Associated Food Stores Signs Supply Agreement with Grocery Supply Company C&S Wholesale Grocers Pinnacle Foods Inc. to Acquire Garden Protein International Inc., Maker of gardein Products Associated Food Stores LLC recently an- nounced it has signed an agreement with New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesaler Grocers Inc. to be the company's primary supplier. C&S Wholesale Grocers will provide warehouse, transportation and procurement services. Associated Food Stores licenses the names Associated, Compare, Met, Met Fresh and Metropol- itan City Markets to over 350 independ- ently owned and operated supermarkets. "With the acquisition of the assets of our former supplier White Rose, C&S has demonstrated a strong commitment to servicing the New York metro market and the hundreds of independent stores we represent," said Bob Sigel, President of Associated Food Stores LLC. "We look forward to continuing to grow our busi- ness with C&S as our primary supplier." "C&S has admired Associated Food Stores and the impact it has had on the New York tri-state area for a long time, and we are delighted to have the oppor- tunity to partner with this strong retail group to service the customers in this re- gion," said Rick Cohen, Chairman and CEO of C&S Wholesale Grocers. Associated Food Stores LLC supplies over 350 independently owned super- markets in the New York tri-state area, providing procurement, distribution, marketing, merchandising, advertising and promotion services, as well as store financing. The company's banners in- clude Associated, Compare, Met, Pioneer, and Met Fresh. For more information on Associated Food Stores, visit the com- pany online at www.shopassociated.com. C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc., based in Keene, New Hampshire, is the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the United States, supplying 5,000 independ- ent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with over 150,000 different products. Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes, from independent retailers to large chains. For more information on C&S Wholesale Grocers, go to www.cswg.com. GN The Chefs' Warehouse Acquires Maryland Based Euro Gourmet Inc. The Chefs' Warehouse Inc., a premier distributor of specialty food products in North America, recently announced that it has acquired essentially all of the assets of Euro Gourmet Inc., based in Beltsville, Maryland. Founded in 1999, Euro Gour- met is a wholesale specialty distributor of imported and domestic products along the East Coast. Euro Gourmet Inc. is ex- pected to generate approximately $5 mil- lion in annualized net sales in 2014. "We are pleased to welcome Euro Gourmet to our growing family," said Christopher Pappas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Chefs' Ware- house Inc. "The Chefs' Warehouse en- tered the Mid-Atlantic region in 2005 through the migration of top New York- based chefs and restaurateurs into the area. We've continued to grow in the re- gion organically and through the previ- ous acquisition of American Gourmet Foods. The addition of Euro Gourmet both strengthens our existing employee base and complements our already exten- sive Mid-Atlantic product selection." "Both The Chefs' Warehouse and Euro Gourmet were founded on the idea that our customers deserve high quality prod- ucts at an affordable price, and we strive every day to make that happen. Joining forces will only help us further improve and thrive in this endeavor," said Francesco Marra, President and CEO of Euro Gourmet Inc. The Chefs' Warehouse Inc. is a premier distributor of specialty food products in the United States and Canada focused on serving the specific needs of chefs who own and/or operate some of the nation's leading menu-driven independent restau- rants, fine dining establishments, country clubs, hotels, catering companies, patis- series, culinary schools and specialty food stores. The Chefs' Warehouse Inc. carries and distributes more than 30,000 products to more than 20,000 customer locations throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, visit the company online at www .chefswarehouse.com. GN KeHE Summer Selling Show Sells Out KeHE Distributors, a leading distributor of natural, specialty and fresh products, will host its annual Summer Selling & Product Innovation Show in Orlando February 2-3. This rapidly growing show is now completely sold out. The show has a unique focus on the summer selling season, and a track record of attracting a large and growing number of retailers of all sizes. KeHE's Summer Selling Show is the only food industry show to win a Top 50 award from the Trade Show News Network. KeHE Distributors LLC based in Naperville, Illinois, provides natural and organic, specialty and multicultural and fresh products to over 40,000 retail outlets throughout North America. For more information, visit www.kehe.com. The KeHE Summer Selling Show is a private, by invitation-only, industry event. Associated Buyers Named Supplier Partner of the Year Associated Buyers was recently recognized as the Whole Foods North Atlantic Supplier of the Year for 2014, The North Atlantic Grocery Supplier of the Year for 2014 and the North Atlantic Whole Body Supplier of the Year for 2014. Associated Buyers has been a dedicated supplier to Whole Foods North Atlantic Region for nearly 20 years. "Thank you for everything over the years. Your patience, honesty, compassion and loyalty make you a shining example of what a great partner should be. Whole Foods Market is a much better place because of our relationship with you," said the Whole Foods North Atlantic Regional Team. Associated Buyers is a distributor of natural, organic, specialty and ethnic foods serving the Northeast. They have been providing quality products to a diverse and growing customer base for over 25 years. Sysco Partners with Pacific Star Foodservice Sysco Corporation, North America's leading foodservice distributor, recently announced that it has reached an agreement to buy 50 percent of Pacific Star Foodservice, a leading foodservice distributor in Mexico. Pacific Star has operated since 1989 with distribution centers servicing customers in the major metropolitan areas of Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Tijuana. It primarily services chain accounts, including fast food and casual dining restaurants, casinos, theme parks, movie theaters and hotels throughout Mexico. Pacific Star is Sysco's second Latin America market investment in 2014. In June, Sysco acquired a 50 percent ownership stake in Mayca Distribuidores, S.A., a leading foodservice distributor in Costa Rica. The transaction requires a regulatory review by Mexico government authorities, after which it will close. When completed, Mexico becomes the sixth country outside the United States where Sysco will have broadline foodservice operations.

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