Golden State Foods (GSF), a US-based food processor and distributor, has purchased KanPak US, a supplier of beverages and desserts for the quick service restaurant (QSR) and retail industries, for an undisclosed amount.
KanPak is a manufacturer of dairy-based products such as smoothies, ice cream, milk shake base, packaged milk, coffees, creamers, frozen desserts and specialty beverages using aseptic processing technology. It employs more than 400 people.
The company operates a manufacturing facility in Arkansas City, an administrative office in Wichita, an equipment dispensing plant in Southbury, Connecticut; a sales and marketing office in Mexico City, a leased manufacturing plant in Queretaro, Mexico; a manufacturing plant in Xiantao City, China; and a sales and marketing, R&D/pilot lab in Shanghai.
The acquisition includes KanPak US operations in Kansas, Connecticut, Canada, Mexico and China.
GSF chairman and CEO Mark Wetterau said, "We're excited about expanding our partnership with KanPak, which will enable GSF and KanPak to increase our offerings to our customers domestically and internationally."
"It will enable both companies to more fully execute the strategy of meeting the needs of evolving global markets across food and beverage customers, foodservice and consumer packaged goods," Wetterau added.
As part of the transaction, Dennis Cohlmia, who served as the second generation president and CEO of KanPak US, has been appointed as chairman of the board of KanPak US, while GSF corporate vice president and Food Processing president Larry McGill has been named corporate vice president of GSF and president and CEO of KanPak US.