LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass. — Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. announced it has reached a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Atoka Cranberries Inc., located in Manseau, Quebec, from The Bieler Group. This acquisition will expand Ocean Spray's manufacturing footprint in Quebec, the second largest and fastest growing cranberry farming region in the world. This transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks.
"This is a strong investment for Ocean Spray and our 700 Farmer-Owners," said Ocean Spray CEO Randy Papadellis. "Ocean Spray's brand strength and global marketing reach, coupled with Atoka's unique product portfolio and location, will benefit all of our Farmers and expand the reach of the overall Quebec cranberry industry."
In addition to acquiring the Atoka brand and processing facility, Ocean Spray intends to purchase The Bieler Group's freezer and receiving facilities in the coming year. The Cooperative also intends to make additional capital investments in these facilities to further increase efficiency and improve yield. The Bieler Group will retain its world-class cranberry growing operations and become a Farmer-Owner of the Ocean Spray Cooperative.
Atoka's approximately 130 employees will become part of the Ocean Spray manufacturing network, which includes five food plants located in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Washington, and Lanco, Chile as well as four beverage facilities in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Nevada.
"The employees of Atoka and Ocean Spray share a similar culture of quality and customer focus, as well as a unique dedication to increasing demand for cranberries," said Marc Bieler, Chairman and CEO of The Bieler Group. "Bringing together these two businesses is exciting and we look forward to joining Ocean Spray as a Farmer-Owner."
"This acquisition comes exactly 60 years after Quebec growers first joined the Ocean Spray Cooperative in 1958," added Papadellis. "Our Farmer-Owners have a long and proud history in Eastern Canada, and partnering with Bieler Cranberries, true pioneers of the Quebec cranberry industry, is a very exciting way to begin the next 60 years."
About Ocean Spray
Ocean Spray is a vibrant agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry growers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is now the world's leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries and is the best-selling brand in the North American bottled juice category. The cooperative's cranberries are currently featured in more than a thousand great-tasting, good-for-you products in over 100 countries worldwide. With more than 2,000 employees and nearly 20 cranberry receiving and processing facilities, Ocean Spray is committed to managing our business in a way that respects our communities, employees and the environment. For more information visit: www.oceanspray.comor www.oceanspray.coop.
About Atoka
Atoka was founded in 1984, initially as a cranberry farming operation. In 1988, Atoka began the first phase of its plant construction process. Over the years, the company launched its marketing, packaging and processing operations. Today, following seven additional expansion phases and several major investments, the company boasts two production lines, a freezer and a state-of-the art laboratory.
Source: Ocean Spray
