Thai firm buys John West tuna owner
Thai Union Frozen Products is to become the world’s largest seafood firm with the acquisition of MW Brands, owner of John West canned tuna, for US$884m.
TUF already owns the Chicken of the Sea canned tuna brand. Buying France-based MW will open up new opportunities in Europe – and boost its processing capacity to 500,000 tonnes a year.
MW was formerly part of HJ Heinz Co and is being sold by Trilantic Capital Partners, the former private-equity arm of Lehman Brothers, which bought MW in 2006.
