February 23, 2017
A cross-border Willkie team advised Bonduelle on its agreement to acquire the U.S. leader of single-serve salad bowls.
On February 23, Willkie client Bonduelle, the world leader in ready-to-eat vegetables present in the canned, frozen, fresh-cut and delicatessen categories, announced that it has agreed to acquire Ready Pac Foods, the U.S. market leader in single-serve salad bowls. This acquisition will strengthen Bonduelle's international footprint and dramatically change its profile, making the United States its largest country of operations.
Based in California, Ready Pac Foods is the #1 producer of single-serve salad bowls in the United States through its Bistro Bowl® suite of products and its legacy of innovation and culinary expertise. Ready Pac Foods is also a producer of fresh-cut produce, offering packaged salads, fresh-cut fruits and mixed vegetables to its retail and foodservice customers.
France-based Bonduelle, a family business, was established in 1853 and is listed on Euronext. Its vegetable products are sold in 100 countries under various brand names and through various distribution channels and technologies.
The cross-border Willkie deal team was led by partner Eduardo Fernandez and included partners Thomas Cerabino, William Gump, Paul Lombard, David Tarr, Wesley Powell, William Rooney, Christopher Peters and Jordan Messinger; counsel Jonathan Konoff, William Thomas, Andrew Spital and Jeffrey Clancy; special European counsel Stanislas Curien; and associates Ziyad Aziz, Justin Sommerkamp, Mathilde de Wiljes, Andrea Hwang, Rose Ohanesian, Annise Maguire, Elizabeth Dunn, Rachel Dooley and Melissa Fischetti.
