Baxters pursues recipe for global growth with US acquisition

Iconic Scottish food brand Baxters has acquired a US food firm, deeming the deal a springboard for further Stateside expansion.
Baxters boss Audrey Baxter deems the deal 'a vital part of our US and global growth strategy'. Picture: contributed.Baxters boss Audrey Baxter deems the deal 'a vital part of our US and global growth strategy'. Picture: contributed.
Baxters boss Audrey Baxter deems the deal 'a vital part of our US and global growth strategy'. Picture: contributed.

Baxters, which is headquartered in Edinburgh, has swooped on Oregon-headquartered Truitt Bros Inc, a contract manufacturer of shelf-stable, thermally processed foods with more than 500 staff. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. It comes after the Scottish firm, whose offering includes soups and condiments, earlier this year snapped up London-based Orexis Fresh Foods.

Audrey Baxter, executive chairman and group chief executive of Baxters, said: “Truitt Bros is an industry innovator, providing high-quality customised products to a wide variety of food companies across the US.

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“The acquisition is a vital part of our US and global growth strategy and offers us the opportunity to capitalise on our existing US business. We will be working closely with the leadership teams at Truitt and Wornick to develop an integrated North American business.”

Truitt Bros operates from two sites – Salem in Oregon, and East Bernstadt in Kentucky. It says it sells its products to a wide range of companies from start-ups to the world’s largest brands. It has full production and warehouse facilities at both sites and a Culinary Centre at the Salem facility.

Baxters dates back to 1868 when George Baxter, who had been working as a gardener on the Gordon Castle Estate, decided to move into the grocery business.

He opened his first shop in Fochabers – where the group still has a major presence – with his wife Margaret making jams and jellies with fruits from the local area.

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