US Foods has agreed to acquire FirstClass Foods, a privately-owned meat manufacturing company based in Hawthorne, Calif. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to close by the end of April, were not disclosed.
Founded in 1962, FirstClass Foods has nearly $55 million in annual sales and employs more than 100. The company specializes in custom processing and portion control cuts of beef, pork, lamb, veal, poultry, seafood and specialty products.
“US Foods has worked with FirstClass Foods for years, and we’ve experienced the company’s commitment to high quality products and consistency,” said David Norton, president of US Foods’ Stock Yards. “This acquisition will allow us to expand our center-of-the-plate offering and better serve our customers throughout southern California.”
US Foods will operate out of FirstClass Foods’ 50,000-sqaure-foot facility in Hawthorne as a US Foods Stock Yard facility.
“We are excited about this new phase of our partnership with US Foods,” said Solly Benzimra, president of FirstClass Foods. “From the very beginning, we have delivered on our commitment to our customers, and we are looking forward to the next chapter for our company as part of US Foods.”
FirstClass Foods is the second meat processor US Foods has acquired this year. In March, the company agreed to acquire SRA Foods, a Birmingham, Ala.-based meat processor and distributor.
By Rebekah Schouten
Source: Food Business News
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