CoolBrands Acquires Americana Foods

MONTREAL - CoolBrands International Inc., the third-largest ice-cream company in the United States, today said it acquired a majority stake in U.S. frozen dessert manufacturer Americana Foods LP.

The Americana Foods deal is designed to increase volumes for the Markham, Ontario-based firm, which recently acquired the ice-cream brands of Nestle following Nestle's takeover of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream.

"Today's deal brings us one of the best production facilities for frozen desserts in the U.S. It allows us to do more under one roof and one management," CoolBrands president and co-chief executive David Stein told Reuters.

CoolBrands acquired the Dreamery ice cream and Whole Fruit sorbet brands, as well as the rights to the license for the Godiva ice-cream brand, on June 25.

Stein said CoolBrands acquired a 50.1 percent stake in Americana Foods, as well as a general partner interest, via its Integrated Brands unit. CoolBrands is known for its Eskimo Pie and its Yogen Fruz frozen desserts, and distributes the Haagen-Dazs ice cream in the United States.

Dallas-based Americana Foods supplies a variety of soft-serve mixes, packaged ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet products and frozen novelties to retailers, food companies and restaurant chains, including Sam's Club, TCBY Enterprises and Silhouette Brands.

"This acquisition complements our recent acquisition from Nestle of the Haagen-Dazs distribution system and positions CoolBrands as the third-largest ice-cream company in the U.S.," Stein said.
X
This ad will auto-close in 10 seconds