Industry & People
April 1, 2008
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ConAgra Foods, Inc. acquired
Kennewick, WA-based Watts Brothers, a privately held vegetable
processing and agricultural company, to further grow and strengthen its
core potato business operating under the Lamb Weston brand. Lamb Weston
has annual sales of approximately $2 billion.
The Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation board of directors unanimously elected J. Clinton Rivers as president and chief executive officer. Rivers previously served as chief operating officer and has held numerous management positions within the company since he joined as QA manager in 1986.
McCormick & Company, Inc. has purchased the shares of Billy Bee Honey Products Ltd. for $75 million.
Sargento Foods has been recognized as the 2007 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year. The company received top honors in the Mega category, which represents companies with more than 1,000 employees.
Campbell Soup Company will remain in Camden, NJ and plans to invest up to $72 million to expand and enhance its facilities and to serve as a master redeveloper of an office park in Camden’s Gateway District. Camden has been home to Campbell for more that 140 years. According to Campbell’s President and CEO Douglas R. Conant, “We have considered many options, but have decided that our goal is to remain in Camden.” Campbell will build an 80,000-sq.-ft. employee services building as originally planned.
The J. M. Smucker Company has entered into an agreement, through a subsidiary, to acquire Europe’s Best, Inc., a privately owned company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec and supplier of all natural, frozen fruit in Canada. Europe’s Best has recently entered the US market and is now available at select retailers, primarily in the Eastern and Southern regions of the country.
Wildeck Inc., manufacturer of material handling equipment, appointed Keith G. Pignolet as president. Pignolet, who joined the company in 1986, formerly served as executive vice president. Current President Ralph H. Laird retired after 29 years with the company and assumed the role of chairman of the board.
Constellation Brands, Inc. completed the sale of the Almaden and Inglenook wine brands, and the Paul Masson winery located in Madera, CA to The Wine Group LLC for $134 million in cash. Proceeds from the transaction will be used to reduce Constellation’s borrowings.
Smithfield Foods, Inc. signed a definitive agreement to sell Smithfield Beef Group, Inc., its beef processing and cattle feeding operation, to JBS S.A. for $565 million in cash. The sale to JBS includes 100% of Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding LLC, which is currently held by Smithfield Beef in a 50/50 joint venture with Continental Grain Company.
J. Clinton Rivers
McCormick & Company, Inc. has purchased the shares of Billy Bee Honey Products Ltd. for $75 million.
Sargento Foods has been recognized as the 2007 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year. The company received top honors in the Mega category, which represents companies with more than 1,000 employees.
Campbell Soup Company will remain in Camden, NJ and plans to invest up to $72 million to expand and enhance its facilities and to serve as a master redeveloper of an office park in Camden’s Gateway District. Camden has been home to Campbell for more that 140 years. According to Campbell’s President and CEO Douglas R. Conant, “We have considered many options, but have decided that our goal is to remain in Camden.” Campbell will build an 80,000-sq.-ft. employee services building as originally planned.
The J. M. Smucker Company has entered into an agreement, through a subsidiary, to acquire Europe’s Best, Inc., a privately owned company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec and supplier of all natural, frozen fruit in Canada. Europe’s Best has recently entered the US market and is now available at select retailers, primarily in the Eastern and Southern regions of the country.
Keith G. Pignolet
Constellation Brands, Inc. completed the sale of the Almaden and Inglenook wine brands, and the Paul Masson winery located in Madera, CA to The Wine Group LLC for $134 million in cash. Proceeds from the transaction will be used to reduce Constellation’s borrowings.
Smithfield Foods, Inc. signed a definitive agreement to sell Smithfield Beef Group, Inc., its beef processing and cattle feeding operation, to JBS S.A. for $565 million in cash. The sale to JBS includes 100% of Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding LLC, which is currently held by Smithfield Beef in a 50/50 joint venture with Continental Grain Company.
