Alantra advised Mitsui on the acquisition of a leading US fresh prepared foods company

Dec 2018

Buy-side advisory

Value $108 million

Alantra is pleased to announce that its client Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (“Mitsui”), a Japanese diversified industrial holding company, has acquired Hans Kissle Company, LLC (“Hans Kissle”), a privately-owned manufacturer of private label and branded foods for retail, foodservice, club and convenience store customers throughout the United States. The total investment associated with the transaction was approximately US$108 million and the transaction closed on December 31, 2018.

Alantra was retained by Mitsui in late 2017 to assist with the identification and acquisition of US manufacturers of fresh prepared foods (“FPF”) for the retail grocery channel. Mitsui decided to pursue the FPF opportunity after an extensive strategic research project seeking market segments that could benefit from its global resources and competencies in fresh food development, packaging and supply chain management.

“Mitsui was seeking a US FPF partner to serve as a true platform for leadership in this growing segment, with a need for highly capable existing management, a strong culinary focus, top quality production, and great customer relationships,” according to Jeff Robards of Alantra, “Hans Kissle checked the box in every regard.”

Mitsui retained Alantra due to its deep food sector transaction experience and its extensive network of relationships with key sector players. “We were delighted to be able to leverage our many years of prior work in the prepared foods sector to get Mitsui quickly engaged with highly viable prospective partners,” said Robards. “And to help get a deal with Hans Kissle to the finish line.”