Advisory firm Brown Gibbons Lang & Company said Wednesday that specialty foods importer J.A. Kirsch will be sold to private food importer Atalanta Corporation. The specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1905, New Jersey-based J.A. Kirsch offers a portfolio of primarily private-label food products, with a focus on seafood, as well as fruits and vegetables. The importer has more than 100 active SKUs such as canned seafood, including tuna, salmon, sardines, and anchovies.
“[BGL] helped me form the ideal partnership with Atalanta Corporation, paving the way for J.A. Kirsch to enter its next phase of growth,” said Mark Gruenbaum, CEO and owner of J.A. Kirsch, in a statement. “As a result of this transaction, I am confident that the strong legacy of the Ruby brand, created in the 1950s and named for my father, will flourish for generations to come."
The addition of J.A. Kirsch and its Ruby brand to Atalanta's portfolio will facilitate the ongoing expansion of their imported specialty food brands, according to BGL. J.A. Kirsch’s presence throughout the East Coast makes them an ideal partner to support Atalanta's position in the independent and retail depot segments of the foodservice industry, notes the investment bank.
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