Puratos Group Acquires Fruit Fillings Producer Pure Food

Pure Food specialises in the production of fruit and berry preparations for bakeries, confectioners, ice cream, yoghurts and desserts. The company employs 167 people.

4/28/2011 --- Puratos has announced the acquisition of Pure Food. This family-owned company, based in Latvia, is well-known for its production of fruit fillings. The acquisition, remaining subject to approval by the regulatory authorities, will strengthen Puratos’ position on the Nordic, Central and Eastern European markets.

Founded in 1994 in the town of Pure, near Riga, Pure Food specialises in the production of fruit and berry preparations for bakeries, confectioners, ice cream, yoghurts and desserts. The company employs 167 people. This team will become part of the Nordic region within the Puratos Group.

Pure Food collects and cleans berries from the Baltic States for the end product, bringing vertical integration to the Puratos Group. The Latvian company will be supported by the Puratos Fruit and Fillings business unit, where its expertise in sourcing and cleaning of berries, aseptic industrial packaging, and modern production techniques will bring synergies to the Group. Pure Food's new production unit was built in 2007, which means that customers benefit from the most modern production facilities for fruit filling production.
 
"The acquisition of Pure Food will allow Puratos to develop its business with industrial bakeries and patisseries in the region, as well as strengthening its presence in the artisan and supermarket in store bakeries. Our customers are continuously looking for new innovative options for the production of patisserie, and these products will complement our existing products and ranges," says Simon Peel, Nordic Regional Director Puratos,  who emphasizes that he is delighted to welcome the new team in Puratos.

"Being with Puratos will allow us to develop our business in the bakery and confectionery market, and at the same time give us technical support for R&D and production facility back up to maintain and grow our business in the yoghurts and desserts segment. I feel the cultures of Pure Food and Puratos, both being family owned companies, are similar and will lead to a successful integration. We are looking forward to the successful growth of our company within the Puratos Group", states Aigars Balodis, General Manager of Pure Food.

The Pure Food company was founded in 1994. It is located 80 km from Riga and its profile is berry and fruit processing and sales. The company produces berry and fruit fillings for the leading Baltic Sea Region bakery and dairy businesses. Pure Food fruit and berry fillings are produced using equipment and installations that retain the maximal amount of natural aromas, colors, flavors, and forms of the fruits and berries. The company uses the latest technologies in the production process, which allows for a high-quality end-result and finished product. The Pure Food company has been awarded the ISO 9001:2000 / ISO 22000 and BRC certificates. This ensures an efficient exchange of information, and an efficient flow of information between all the various departments of the company, which is especially important in a company that produces food products.