NatureSweet, the US vegetables group, has been sold to agri-food investor Blue Road Capital.
Financial details were not disclosed.
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NatureSweet supplies major supermarket chains in the US, Canada and Mexico. It has 6,000 full-time staff.
Silver Ventures, a VC firm based in NatureSweet’s home state of Texas, has owned the business since 1995.
In a statement, Silver Ventures described NatureSweet as “the number-one selling brand” of snacking tomatoes in North America and “a growing force in greenhouse-grown peppers and cucumbers”.
Bryant Ambelang, Silver Ventures’ CEO, said the firm was “confident in Blue Road’s ability to lead NatureSweet into a promising future”.
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By GlobalDataBlue Road Capital, based in New York, has made investments in fresh-produce suppliers including US businesses Vanguard International and B&W Quality Growers.
In 2021, the investor acquired US honey and natural sweeteners producer Sweet Harvest Foods.
Ambelang added: “They understand the value of this company lies in its people and are committed to the principles of growing the best-tasting produce through transforming the lives of agricultural workers. NatureSweet is transitioning into capable and caring hands.”
The deal comes alongside a raft of deals in the fresh produce sector in September.
South African fruit producer Capesan has a new owner in the form of an investment vehicle backed by local agriculture fund Agrarius Agri Value Chain RF Proprietary.
Peru’s Viru Group acquired US frozen fruit and vegetable peer Superior Foods International, while fresh berry supplier Planasa in Spain was bought by the German family-owned holding company EW Group.
Also in Peru, Grupo Hame snapped up fruit and vegetable grower Agrokasa.
