US: Apio acquires Green Line Foods

Apio, a wholly owned subsidiary of Landec Corporation and a leading producer of fresh-cut vegetable products, today announced the acquisition of GreenLine Foods, from The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm. GreenLine Foods is the leading processor and marketer of value-added, fresh-cut green beans in North America. US consumer demand for the convenience of fresh-cut green beans that have been pre-washed, trimmed and are ready-to-cook is growing. Greenline is well prepared to support this growing market with strong sourcing capabilities and a national distribution network to ensure year-round supply of high quality product to its customers.

GreenLine’s primary production facilities are located in Bowling Green, OH and Hanover, PA. Additional production facilities are located in Vero Beach, FL and Pico Rivera, CA with distribution centers in New York and South Carolina. The addition of GreenLine’s significant footprint on the east coast and dedicated fleet of privately owned trucks is a strong complement to Apio’s California base of operations.

With this acquisition, Apio, Inc. is now able to offer its customers the best of fresh-cut vegetables: the GreenLine brand of value-added green bean products and the Eat Smart brand of value-added bag and tray vegetables. These products, as well as future innovations, will be offered to customers with the continued high quality, service, and year-round reliability that has been the cornerstone for the enduring success of these two brands.

"It is unique to find two companies so well suited for each other," said Ron Midyett, CEO of Apio. "The GreenLine team brings deep operational, sourcing and transportation expertise, as well as solid industry relationships. They have built a strong brand through their commitment to high quality products and customer service. Apio is pleased to expand our offering to include a wide range of products from two leading brands. We are committed to maintaining the high levels of quality and service that our customers have come to expect from both organizations."

"GreenLine is excited to become a part of the Apio family," said Jeff Rettig, Sr. VP of Operations at GreenLine. "Apio’s industry leadership, strong new product innovation capabilities and investment in packaging technologies will create new opportunities for growth for the GreenLine brand. The GreenLine team looks forward to the exciting benefits that this union can bring to our customers."

This acquisition will offer immediate benefits of strengthened category management for both GreenLine and Eat Smart customers. In time, Apio will be working toward creating the benefits of single order entry and streamlined transportation options. In the meantime, Apio remains focused on its dedication to product quality and customer service, innovative new products and advanced packaging technologies.

For more information:
Cali Tanguay
Apio
Tel: +1 (805) 249-5212
[email protected]