10/02/2001
Acirca Acquires Largest U.S. Organic Juice Brand
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Acirca Inc. announced on Wednesday it has acquired Mountain Sun, the number one brand of certified organic juice in the United States.
This acquisition allows Acirca to enter the $4 billion shelf stable juice category and one of the highest growth segments of the $8 billion organic food and beverage category of North America. Acirca's current portfolio includes Walnut Acres certified organic soups, salsas and sauces.
Commenting on the acquisition, Acirca CEO Mark S. Rodriguez said, "We are pleased to welcome Mountain Sun into the Acirca portfolio because together we share a mission to make certified organic packaged foods and beverages more widely available to the rapidly expanding base of health-conscious organic consumers. Additionally, through increased scale gained with the integration of the Mountain Sun business, we aspire to become a more valuable trading partner with our retail customers."
Mountain Sun founder and President Bill Russell, who will remain a consultant to the company, said, "Joining forces with Acirca offers Mountain Sun a wide range of experience in building brands in conventional distribution channels. We also gain resources to expand the distribution of our certified organic juices faster in an increasingly competitive environment."
The company will align activities that result in increased levels of customer service and help Acirca differentiate itself as a value-added supplier with its major customers. The company aspires to provide reliable, efficient service across an expanding range of certified organic products.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. This announcement follows the acquisition on June 11, 2001 of Frutti Di Bosco and Millina's Finest pasta sauces, the second largest certified organic pasta sauce business in the United States.
This acquisition allows Acirca to enter the $4 billion shelf stable juice category and one of the highest growth segments of the $8 billion organic food and beverage category of North America. Acirca's current portfolio includes Walnut Acres certified organic soups, salsas and sauces.
Commenting on the acquisition, Acirca CEO Mark S. Rodriguez said, "We are pleased to welcome Mountain Sun into the Acirca portfolio because together we share a mission to make certified organic packaged foods and beverages more widely available to the rapidly expanding base of health-conscious organic consumers. Additionally, through increased scale gained with the integration of the Mountain Sun business, we aspire to become a more valuable trading partner with our retail customers."
Mountain Sun founder and President Bill Russell, who will remain a consultant to the company, said, "Joining forces with Acirca offers Mountain Sun a wide range of experience in building brands in conventional distribution channels. We also gain resources to expand the distribution of our certified organic juices faster in an increasingly competitive environment."
The company will align activities that result in increased levels of customer service and help Acirca differentiate itself as a value-added supplier with its major customers. The company aspires to provide reliable, efficient service across an expanding range of certified organic products.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. This announcement follows the acquisition on June 11, 2001 of Frutti Di Bosco and Millina's Finest pasta sauces, the second largest certified organic pasta sauce business in the United States.
