Puratos acquires Vör Foods to boost nut-based innovation in the US

Puratos has acquired US-based Vör Foods, which manufactures clean label nut pastes and nut-based fillings. The move intends to advance Puratos’ manufacturing footprint and nut-based innovation efforts in the US, as snack nuts gain popularity for their health benefits and versatility.

Vör’s Trevose site will provide technical collaboration and support, while accelerating the exchange of best practices between the teams. Puratos will invest in Vör’s equipment and capacity to support continued expansion and meet rising consumer demand for clean label nut solutions.

Nut-based ingredients have emerged as the fastest-growing categories in bakery, according to Puratos. Vör Foods’ acquisition will help the company support US manufacturers in responding more quickly to consumer trends gaining popularity — such as the growing demand for Dubai-style chocolate — by using locally produced ingredients.

Puratos Group CEO Pierre Tossut views the acquisition as a “significant step forward” for the bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredients supplier, as consumer demand for indulgent sweet bakery products with exceptional nut fillings grows.

Vör’s Trevose facility is located close to Puratos USA and will enhance technical collaboration and best practice sharing between the teams.“It elevates our nut-based expertise and enables us to invest at scale in advanced capabilities, innovation, and long-term value creation for customers across all markets,” he says.

Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.

Innova Market Insights data shows that North America is a “mature market,” as a large percentage of consumers regularly buy or consume snacks.

Meanwhile, snack consumption trends tracked by the market researcher reveal that nuts and seeds are viewed as a healthier alternative to many sweet and savory snacks, with over 40% of snack consumers saying they cut back on their consumption due to perceived unhealthiness.

Food safety and local sourcing

Vör Foods is based in Trevose, Pennsylvania. Its portfolio includes pistachio, hazelnut, almond, cashew, and blended nut pastes and fillings, which complement Puratos’s existing range of nut fillings.

Vör says its nut facility is Safe Quality Food certified, enhancing its production capabilities and ensuring food safety throughout production. The company sources its ingredients primarily from the US, which it says improves traceability and lead times to fulfil the country’s customer demand.

The company has grown “remarkably fast” by staying close to customers and delivering “on-trend nut solutions,” says Andy Brimacombe, president of Puratos North America.

“The team’s expertise and US nut facility make Vör a strong strategic fit for Puratos, and enhance our ability to support customers with reliable, high-quality ingredients.”

For Vör Foods, joining Puratos opens up the opportunity to combine its nut expertise with Puratos’s “scale, capabilities, and industry network,” says Vör CEO Frank Steck.

Puratos’s recent business moves include unveiling its “Vitus” sourdough at a bakery beneath the Louvre Museum’s iconic glass pyramid in Paris, France, opening its third Canadian innovation center in Montreal, and prioritizing sustainability through a fully data-driven, end-to-end approach.