Iberia Acquires Marcas’ Assets

Iberia Foods Corp., a manufacturer, importer and distributor of Hispanic, Caribbean and other specialty foods and beverages, has acquired the assets of Marcas Food Distributors, a Chicago-based independent distributor of Hispanic and European foods. The strategic Midwest acquisition is East Coast-based Iberia’s first step toward long-term national expansion.

The resulting company, Iberia Food Co. of the Midwest, will serve as a base for growth in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. Iberia’s parent corporation, Brooklyn Bottling Corp., is a branded, private label manufacturer and franchise bottler with a distribution network spanning more than 25 states.

The newly purchased facility from Marcas will be the seventh distribution hub for Iberia, which already operates distribution centers along the East Coast in New York; Miami; Orlando, Fla.; Atlanta; Baltimore; and Springfield, Mass.

“This initiative is part of a larger vision to gradually expand Iberia Foods Corp. nationwide within the next three to five years,” explained Iberia VP of Corporate Sales Pedro Casais. “We pinpointed the void and realized that the Midwest region was thirsty for a more diverse portfolio of Hispanic and Caribbean products. Iberia Foods Corp. is the perfect fit to effectively address those needs.”

Offering a wide range of food and beverage products and categories, Iberia has brands in more than 10,000 supermarkets, club stores, wholesalers and distributors on the East Coast. Aside from its own brands, the company exclusively distributes well-known market leaders from the Caribbean and various countries in Latin America and Spain.