Business
SunOpta Inc. Announces Acquisition of Aux Mille et une Saisons Inc.
SunOpta Inc. Announces Acquisition of Aux Mille et une Saisons Inc..
About this update from Sunopta Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nTORONTO, December 18 /CNW/ - SunOpta Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL)(TSX:SOY) today\nannounced that it has acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Aux Mille et\nune Saisons Inc. Aux Mille et une Saisons has been in business for over 20\nyears and is a leading Quebec based distributor of certified organic and\nnatural grocery products supported by a long-term track record of profitable\nperformance. The acquisition of Aux Mille et une Saisons will provide\nsignificant presence for the SunOpta Canadian Food Distribution Group within\nQuebec and solidifies the Group's position as the largest distributor of\nnatural and organic foods in Canada.\n\n\nThe company operates from its recently expanded 32,000 square foot\ndistribution centre located in Scotstown, east of Sherbrooke in the Eastern\nTownships of Quebec. With secondary warehousing facilities in Montreal, Aux\nMille et une Saisons operates the most extensive natural and organic\ndistribution network in Quebec and the Maritime provinces. In addition to\nstrengthening SunOpta's national platform, the acquisition will benefit the\nCanadian organic market as a whole, by expanding distribution of exclusive\nbrands throughout SunOpta's network in central and western Canada.\n\n\nMonsieur Marc Periard will continue to manage the Aux Mille et une\nSaisons business and has been appointed Vice President of Organic and Natural\nFoods, Eastern Region. The companies focus and strength is in organic grocery\nproducts. The company employs 60 personnel, including 12 sales professionals\nwho represent the largest natural and organic foods sales force in Quebec. The\ncompany's reputation for integrity, product knowledge and superior service has\nprovided a history of strong growth with current revenues of approximately $16\nmillion. Aux Mille et une Saisons maintains a number of exclusive sourcing\narrangements with Quebec organic producers as well as suppliers from around\nthe world including, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Brazil and\nChina.\n\n\nStephen Easterbrook, President of the SunOpta Canadian Food Distribution\nGroup commented, \"This acquisition will strengthen our national organic foods\ndistribution platform, foster supply arrangements internationally as well as\nbring new product lines to each company. We have a great amount of respect for\nthe business and philosophies t...