SunOpta expands with acquisition of Tradin Organic

Healthy products group SunOpta announced today the business plans to acquire the outstanding shares of the Dutch organic food ingredients company within 60 days. Steve Bromley, President and CEO of SunOpta said: "The combination of SunOpta's global sourcing and processing operations with Tradin's extensive and complementary operations positions SunOpta as a global leader in the provision of organic ingredients in the world." ​Tradin is headquartered in Amsterdam, and operates a number of wholly owned and partially owned companies in Netherlands, China, Serbia and Ethiopia. It also has sourcing operations in the US, Germany, Austria, France and Thailand, which source and procures key organic ingredients from extensive relationships in key growing areas around the globe. Tradin's organic food sourcing and processing expertise complements SunOpta's broad natural and organic foods platform, sourcing and processing that serve a global base. The combination is hoped to lead to further integrated sourcing and processing opportunities around the globe. Tradin said its global customer and supply base is a result of its extensive investments in its quality departments and systems. "By joining SunOpta we will be able to improve these systems even further and faster,"​ said Tradin shareholders Wim Rabbie and Gerard Versteegh. "In doing so, we will be able to add quality driven turnover, increasing our current programs and adding new sourcing projects worldwide. We will continue to take a leading role in stimulating the integrity of the organic business worldwide." ​Tradin was founded in 1985, and now has annual revenues or $120m. It supplies organic products including frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, coffee, cocoa, cereals, rice, soy, beans, pulses, nuts, oils and seasonings. SunOpta specializes in sourcing, processing and distribution of natural and organic food products integrated from seed through packaged products. It has been growing extensively this year, in and outside of the US. In August it expanded its soy manufacturing facilities in New York to improve its supply and service to east coast customers. Earlier this year, SunOpta has also strengthened relationships with firms in Argentina and Chile as well as acquiring two fruit firms in Mexico. According to the Organic Trade Association's (OTA) 2007 Manufacturer Survey, organic foods are one of the fastest growing segments in the industry, with North American sales in 2006 increasing 21 percent to reach $16.7bn.