US snacks business Shearer’s Foods is to get new owners in the shape of local investor Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).

CD&R has agreed to buy Shearer’s from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) fund for an undisclosed sum. Earlier reports had speculated a buy-out deal for Shearer’s could be worth $3bn.

It was first suggested in August that the OTPP Canadian pension fund was eyeing a sale of Ohio-based private-label snack maker and co-manufacturer Shearer’s.

Confirming a deal had been struck yesterday (13 December), John Compton, CD&R operating partner and a former CEO of PepsiCo North America, said: “We have deep admiration and respect for Shearer’s, a leading business that shares our core values in a sector and operating model we know and understand well.”

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CD&R partner JL Zrebiec added: “We have strong conviction in the differentiated manufacturing capabilities and category management the company provides and our goal is to support the team in further scaling operations and capturing the many opportunities ahead to better serve Shearer’s customers.”

Shearer’s CEO Mark McNeil said: “As Shearer’s enters a new phase of growth, we are excited to be joined by a team with the experience, expertise and resources to support our mission of producing high-quality, innovative and delicious snacks that we are proud to serve to our families, friends, customers and retailers.”

Source: Just Food

 

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