Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has a deal to buy VIAU Foods, a Quebec-based company that makes Italian cooked, dry-cured and charcuterie meats, for $215 million, including $30 million in Maple Leaf stock.
VIAU has annual sales of $180 million and employs 470 workers at plants at Montreal and Laval.
Michael McCain, president and chief executive officer for Maple Leaf, said "VIAU brings a portfolio of leading brands, a reputation for innovation and quality, skilled management and people, and excellent manufacturing assets.
"This acquisition expands Maple Leaf's position in the growing market for premium dry cured and pepperoni meat products and provides further production capacity in Quebec, an important strategic base to grow both Canadian and U.S. sales. It also enables VIAU to expand its portfolio to include raised without antibiotic products, leveraging Maple Leaf's leadership in this growing market."
Pat De Marco, president and chief operating officer for VIAU, said "It is with great pride that we join the Maple Leaf family. Our quality and food safety culture fits perfectly with Maple Leaf, the company that, for years, we have regarded as the Canadian industry leader.
“The resources that Maple Leaf brings will allow us to more quickly grow our business, provide additional product offerings to our customers, make further inroads into the U.S. market, and provide more opportunities to our people. We are truly excited about the future possibilities."
Established in 1977, VIAU produces a range of value-added prepared meat products including Italian cooked meats, sausages, pizza toppings, shaved steak and meatballs, and is the Canadian market leader in cooked and dry-cured pepperoni.
It also produces a range of gourmet deli and premium charcuterie products including salametti, capicollo, pancetta and sliced chorizo.
VIAU is a leading supplier of dried pepperoni and other pizza toppings to the North American foodservice industry and markets its products through retailers across Canada.
