UNFI Acquiring Trudeau Foods

United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) has agreed to acquire the equity interests of Trudeau Foods LLC from Trudeau Holdings LLC, a portfolio company of Chicago-based private equity firm Arbor Investments II LP. Trudeau Foods is the largest Minnesota-based distributor of natural, organic and specialty food products.

The transaction is expected to close by Sept. 30. Afterwards, Trudeau Foods will be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Providence, R.I.-based UNFI.

“This acquisition is the latest step in our strategy to grow our market share and deliver a complete basket of specialty, natural and organic products to our customers,” noted Steve Spinner, UNFI’s president and CEO. “Both companies have a tremendous history of commitment to servicing their customers, and we are enthusiastic about the growth prospects for this market.”

Trudeau Foods serves more than 600 customer locations, including chain and independent grocers, wholesalers and meat markets in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The company carries specialty gourmet meats, frozen foods, dairy, bakery, deli, seafood and dry grocery items under a wide range of national, regional and private label brands.

UNFI carries and distributes more than 65,000 products to more than 27,000 customer locations throughout the United States and Canada. The company serves a wide variety of retail formats, including conventional supermarket chains, natural product superstores, independent retail operators and the foodservice channel.