Cargill Buys Unilevers Tomato Products Business

SAO PAULO, BrazilCargill acquired Unilever's tomato products business in Brazil, including Pomarola and Tarantella brand tomato sauce, Elefante and Extratomato brand tomato paste, and Pomodoro brand tomato pulp. Unilever will continue to market tomato products to the foodservice segment under these brands.

The acquisition includes Unilever's site in Goiania (Goias State) and tomato manufacturing facility. Cargill and Unilever expect to conclude the transaction by the end of the year. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

"This transaction strengthens Cargill's global partnership with Unilever," said Marcelo Martins, director, Cargill Foods Brazil, and president, Cargill Agricola S.A. "In addition to Unilever being a large global customer of Cargill's, our new plant in Goiania will supply Unilever in Brazil with tomato products, and Unilever will continue manufacturing other products on the site adjacent to Cargill's operations."

Cargill Foods Brazil serves retailers, manufacturers, and foodservice operators in Brazil and exports to a number of regional markets. In retail, Cargill Foods Brazil markets bottled and canned cooking oils under the Liza®, Veleiro®, Purilev® and Mazola® brands. Cargill Foods Brazil also produces blended oils under the Olivia® and Maria® brands, and mayonnaise under the Liza®, Maria®, Mariana® and Gourmet® brands. The company is the exclusive distributor of Gallo and La Espanola brand olive oil, Gallo brand olives, and Delverde brand pasta in Brazil. Cargill Foods Brazil operates production sites in Mairinque (Sao Paulo State), Sao Jose do Rio Pardo (Sao Paulo State) and Itumbiara (Goias State).