General Mills Buys Pasta Master

“The acquisition of Pasta Master strategically broadens our ready-to-cook pasta offerings to consumers,” said Markus Muehleisen, managing director of General Mills Australia.

12/15/2010 --- General Mills announced that it has signed a contract to buy Pasta Master, a producer of chilled Italian meals, pasta and sauces based in Bendigo, Victoria. The sale is expected to be completed in March 2011.

The sale includes the business and a production facility in Bendigo.  About 75 people at the facility will become part of General Mills when the sale is completed. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

“The acquisition of Pasta Master strategically broadens our ready-to-cook pasta offerings to consumers,” said Markus Muehleisen, managing director of General Mills Australia.  “Its long history of innovation and quality in Italian meals fit well with our Latina portfolio, which is Australia’s No. 1 brand of fresh pasta and sauces.”

In addition to Latina, General Mills also markets Old El Paso Mexican food, Betty Crocker cake mixes and Nature Valley muesli bars, which were introduced last April.