C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc. has acquired Les Plats Du Chef (PDC), a Canadian-based frozen meal and snack company. Headquartered in Montreal, PDC operates two manufacturing plants in Toronto and one in Montreal. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
PDC was founded in 1981 by Chef Michel Lachapelle and his wife, Monique. In 2002, the company was bought by Claridge Food Group, which is a company owned by the Stephen Bronfman family. The company’s products are sold under the Cuisine Adventures brand and include soups, oatmeal, dips, empanadas, mini quiche and other snacks. PDC also makes private label products and serves the food service industry under its Cuisi-Prestige and Thyme & Truffles brands.
“PDC has done a great job of creating new products that are on trend with today’s consumers, which is evident based on their success with club stores and retail chains in both the U.S. and Canada,” said Dale W. Tremblay, president and chief executive officer of C.H. Guenther. “I believe that with the talent and resources within both companies, we can work with the PDC team to take this business to a whole new level. We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the Claridge Food Group, and they are to be commended on what they have successfully built.”
Pierre Boivin, president and c.e.o. of Claridge Inc., said, “We have enjoyed helping to support and build PDC over the past 15 years, and the management team is to be commended for the innovation and development of the company into a North American success story. We know that we are transitioning this business into good hands, as CHG has a well-respected track record and history in the food business across the U.S., Canada and Europe.”
Mr. Tremblay said C.H. Guenther will work with Tony Galasso, president of PDC, to further the brand and product capabilities.
Founded in 1851 by German immigrant Carl Hilmar Guenther, C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc. produces a variety of branded and food products for retail and food service customers and consumers. With this acquisition, C.H. Guenther will have 10 facilities in the United States, 6 in Canada, 2 in the United Kingdom and 1 Belgium.
By Eric Schroeder
Source: Food Business News
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