French dairy, juice and soup products maker Laiterie de Saint-Denis-de-l’Hôtel (LSDH) is to buy salad firm Les Crudettes from local company Groupe Pomona.
LSDH has intially taken a 66% stake in Les Crudettes and will take full control over the next two years. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed.
LSDH described the purchase as being part of its diversification strategy. It marks the first time the group has ventured out of liquid food, where 70% of its business is in supplying supermarkets’ private labels.
LSDH has undertaken to retain Les Crudettes’ 500-strong workforce, which is based at two plants.
Its activities also encompass snack products with a range of ready-to-eat salad dishes, prepared fruit and breadless sandwiches. It posted turnover of EUR76m (US$103.8m) in its last financial year.