Frutura, the global sales and marketing platform designed to supply international customers with high-quality fresh fruits, 365 days a year, announced its intention to significantly accelerate its berry capabilities. Agreements have been signed to acquire all the assets of the Giddings Fruit and Sun Belle companies.

“The deals we announced today are among the most significant acquisitions Frutura has made to date,” said David Krause, CEO of Frutura. “These just feel like deals that were meant to happen. “Common ownership will unlock the value of these tremendous companies in a profound way, both for our customers and partner growers.”

Giddings Fruit, headquartered in Santiago, is a leading global supplier of organic and conventional berries and cherries. Giddings has huge berry growing and packing operations in Mexico and South America. Giddings Cerasus, located in Chile, is a major grower and marketer in the international cherry market. Giddings' enviable position as 'so close to a 52-week supplier' of premium berries and cherries is critical to Frutura's strategy.

Sun Belle, headquartered near O'Hare Airport in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, is a year-round seller of a full line of conventional and organic berries, sold primarily under the Sun Belle and Green Belle brands. The company collaborates closely with international and national producers to optimize the quality of the fruit and obtain new desirable varieties. Sun Belle has built an excellent infrastructure and distribution platform, with five warehouse operations in the United States ensuring customers reliable and fast deliveries of high-quality fresh berries.

As Sun Belle and Giddings have enjoyed a deep relationship for decades, Frutura anticipates an easy integration. The companies have worked closely on distribution, marketing and logistics, with Sun Belle serving as the exclusive sales agent for Giddings berries grown in Mexico. Additionally, the two companies share a well-deserved reputation as pioneers in berry varietal genetics through Giddings' Black Venture Farm, as well as through partnerships with leading breeding companies and academic institutions.

Its founder Janice Honigberg will continue as CEO of Sun Belle and its founder Julio Giddings will become president emeritus of Giddings Fruit. Observing the importance of these acquisitions, both will join the Frutura Board of Directors

“Frutura has fulfilled my dream of uniting Giddings and Sun Belle under one roof,” said Janice Honigberg. "This agreement will unleash the full potential of Sun Belle to satisfy consumers' desire for the best varieties of high-quality fresh berries and other fruits in attractive and innovative packaging all year round." Honigberg added: “The Sun Belle team is delighted to join Frutura in its mission to expand its global business. “We look forward to working with other Frutura companies on a number of business opportunities.”

“Janice and I have worked so closely, and for so long, that shared ownership feels like a natural evolution,” said Julio Giddings, president emeritus of Giddings Fruit. “I am delighted to expand our collective platform and open new global markets for Frutura, as we look to identify new revenue streams.”

Fruit

Frutura is a global sales and marketing platform committed to providing superior fruit to international customers 365 days a year. The company's producers and marketers deliver products of the highest quality, demonstrate operational excellence and share Frutura's core values ​​of social and environmental performance. www.fruturaproduce.com

Giddings Fruit

Founded in 1985, Giddings is well known as one of the world's leading suppliers of berries and cherries with farming, packaging and export operations in North and South America and with trading offices in the UK and Asia. The company also offers vertically integrated seed-to-shelf services to major global production operations. www.giddingsfruit.com

Sun Belle

Sun Belle is a leading distributor and marketer in North America and international markets of conventional and organic berries, including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, goldenberries, cranberries and red currants. Sun Belle delivers to customers in North America from distribution centers in Schiller Park, Illinois; Jessup, Maryland; Miami Florida; Oxnard, California; and Laredo, Texas. www.sun-belle.com