Food solutions provider CTI Foods has completed the acquisition of pizza toppings manufacturer Liguria Foods for an undisclosed sum.
Liguria Foods produces salami, pepperoni, and other protein pizza toppings for pizzerias and sandwich stores.
CTI Foods, which was established in 1985, offers cooked protein products such as fajita and taco meat, beans, soups and sauces, which are manufactured at six production facilities located across the US.
The company offers pre-cooked protein, soups and sauces, and dehydrated beans, to foodservice and restaurant industries.
CTI Foods president and CEO Sam Rovit said: "We are excited to welcome Liguria to the CTI family, and we especially like that Liguria is the pepperoni of choice for many of the most discriminating, independent and multi-unit pizzerias in the US.
"It's a good market to compete in, as pizza sales are growing at three percent annually and roughly half of all pizzas in the US are ordered with pepperoni. The addition of Liguria's high quality products is consistent with our commitment to growth by diversifying CTI's differentiated protein offerings and broadening CTI's distribution channels."
Liguria CEO Lance Chambers said: "We have aggressively built market share by being highly responsive to customer needs and by focusing on independent and multi-unit operators who want authentic, high quality, and flavorful pepperoni.
"We're very pleased to align with CTI. We believe our teams are a great fit and look forward to leveraging our array of complementary capabilities as we continue to earn our customers' business each and every day."
Established in Iowa in 1974, Liguria Foods claims that it uses advanced technology and conventional methods such as use of redwood drying room, to create toppings with distinctive taste.
Sam Rovit said: "Our strategy is to be on the lookout for excellent businesses like Liguria that can benefit their customers by accessing the resources of a larger company and that bring new products to our customers.
"In addition, we have developed a high regard for Liguria's management and are delighted that the entire team will be joining CTI under the continued leadership of Lance Chambers."
Image: CTI foods acquires pizza toppings maker. Photo: Courtesy of punsayaporn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
