Reuters — Campbell Soup Co. said on Friday it would sell its Bolthouse Farms business to an affiliate of private equity firm Butterfly Equity for US$510 million, in the U.S. food company’s first major sale as part of its plan to reduce debt.
With the completion of deal, expected by July, Campbell will have divested its entire fresh division, it said. In February, it agreed to sell salsa maker Garden Fresh Gourmet to a unit of Fountain of Health USA, which makes hummus, dips and prepared salads.
Read Also
U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop
Chicago Board of Trade corn futures set contract lows and soybean futures sagged on Friday on expectations that beneficial weather for U.S. crops will lead to bumper harvests, analysts said.
Butterfly said its operating partner Jeff Dunn will take the role of CEO at Bolthouse Farms, where he previously served as president and CEO between 2008 and 2015.
Campbell bought Bolthouse, known for its fruit juices and packaged carrots, in 2012 for about $1.55 billion in a push to add healthier products to its portfolio (all figures US$).
The business, however, has struggled in recent years, with issues ranging from farming missteps to the recall of 3.8 million bottles of protein shakes due to possible spoilage.
The fresh food unit, along with Campbell’s international business, has been up for sale since August after the company was pressured by investors to boost its profitability and stock performance.
“The sale of Bolthouse Farms supports our strategy to focus on our two core North American businesses, Campbell Snacks and Campbell Meals and Beverages,” CEO Mark Clouse said.
The packaged foods maker said the proceeds from deal would help reduce debt by about $570 million and that the transaction is not expected to impact the company’s fiscal 2019 forecast.
The majority of Bolthouse’s trademark carrots are today grown in California, but according to the division website, it also sources seasonal carrots from Ontario as well as Georgia and Washington.
— Reporting for Reuters by Uday Sampath and Aishwarya Venugopal in Bangalore.
