Spanish food company Ebro Foods has announced the merger of its three US rice and pasta companies in a bid to become a major player in the two segments in the country.
The companies to be merged, with effective from 1 January 2017, are Riviana Foods, American Rice and New World Pasta Company.
While Riviana Foods and American Rice are rice companies, New World Pasta Company as its name suggests is a pasta manufacturer. All the three companies put together have annual sales revenue of around $1.5bn.
Following the merger, they will come under the Riviana Foods name with headquarters in Houston, Texas. They will have a satellite office located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Riviana Foods (merged companies) president and CEO Bastiaan de Zeeuw said: "We have successfully brought together the core strengths of the companies including an extensive portfolio of brands and products.
"In addition, by combining our operations and distribution networks, we will even better fulfill our commitment to customer service, product quality, better efficiencies, innovation and growth."
Ebro Foods forayed into the US market in 2004 by acquiring Riviana Foods which seven years later bought American Rice.
Two years after its US entry, Ebro Foods acquired Harrisburg, Pennsylvania based New World Pasta.
The three merging companies have manufacturing plants across seven US states and in Canada through Riviana’s pasta subsidiary, Catelli Foods Corporation.
Following the merger, the consolidated Riviana Foods company will have a combined portfolio that includes Minute, Carolina, Success, Gourmet House, Mahatma, Adolphus, Ronzoni, Blue Ribbon, Skinner, American Beauty, San Giorgio, Creamette, No Yolks and Prince.
Earlier in the year, Ebro Foods acquired French organic food company CELNAT for €25.5m.
