by FoodBizDaily.com staff writer
January 13 2010 - Prospective buyers of Kettle Foods are to attend site visits at the company's Norwich headquarters in the UK over the next few weeks, according to reports.
Several blue-chip food groups are believed to be among those companies planning to visit with an interest in buying the business, the Eastern Daily Press reported.
Kettle’s main products include fried potato chips and baked potato chips. It also manufactures roasted nuts, nut butters and tortilla chips and healthy snacks, with distribution throughout North America, Japan, Guam and Western Europe.
The news follows speculation over the firm’s future and reports that Lion Capital, which bought the company in 2006, was looking to sell for more than £400m.
Kettle Foods managing director Jeremy Bradley, quoted by edp24.co.uk, said: “Lion Capital has received a number of approaches from parties interested in buying the business and consequently we have been asked to host several visits over the coming weeks.
“As you would expect, we cannot comment on the identity of the interested parties.
“Whether an offer for the business is made that Lion Capital find acceptable very much remains to be seen.”
Kettle employs approximately 730 people across several production sites and in 2008 generated sales of $235 million.
FoodBizIntel®
Kettle Foods, Inc.
Address: 3125 Kettle Ct. SE Salem, OR 97301-5572 USA
Telephone: +1-503-364-0399
Fax: 503-371-1447
About Kettle Foods, Inc.
A good-tasting, low-fat potato chip is not an oxymoron at Kettle Foods. The company produces all-natural, hand-cooked chips. It also manufactures and sells tortilla chips, roasted nuts, trail mixes, and nut butter spreads. Whereas in the past, Kettle Foods' products were only available in natural food stores, the company has expanded its market reach by moving into mainstream supermarkets. Kettle's products are available throughout North America, as well as in Asia and Western Europe. The company is owned by London-based private investment firm, Lion Capital, which put the chip maker up for sale in 2009.