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published on December 31, 2020 - 11:46 AM
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A Fresno food processor has completed a pair of major acquisitions, prompting plans to expand its facility.

Founded in Fresno in 1946, the Vie-Del Company is the oldest family-owned grape processor and supplier of bulk juices, concentrates, brandy, wine and spirits in the state. This week it announced the acquisition of the Canandaigua Concentrate High-Color Concentrate and standard grape concentrate business lines from Constellation Brands U.S. Operations, Inc.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Constellation Brands is one of the largest distributors of beer, wine and spirits in the world. The publicly-trade company (ticker: STZ) got a recent boost in the market with news of the sale of its low-priced wine and spirits portfolio to Modesto-based E. & J. Gallo Winery for $1.7 billion.

The sale of Constellation’s line of High-Color Concentrate — a thick, shelf-stable syrup used to deeper the color and enhance the taste and texture of red wines, jellies, juices and other products — was a condition placed upon Constellation by the Federal Trade Commission to avoid violation of federal antitrust law with the Gallo deal.

As part of the expansion Vie-Del will embark on a multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art facility expansion in Fresno County, according to a company news release. Vie-Del has two facilities — one in Fresno and the other in Kingsburg.

Construction of the expansion will begin after the first of the new year and will take place over an 18-24 month period. 

The expansion will consist of state-of-the-art, energy efficient environmentally sound and user-friendly ew processing equipment and infrastructure to support the new business line. 

In anticipation of growing business due to the acquisition, Vie-Del is seeking to expand its workforce with qualified applicants. 

“The Canandaigua Concentrate acquisition enhances our already expansive lines of grape juice concentrates and takes Vie-Del into the High-Color Concentrate business with immense opportunity for growth,” said Dianne S. Nury, president of Vie-Del. “Our team of specialists will continue to serve our industry partners, existing and new, with quality products to fuel their growth and the same personalized business approach our family-owned company has delivered for the past 70 years.”

The acquisition is composed of the Canandaigua Concentrate MegaNatural HCC, Mega Purple and Mega Red, and standard grape concentrates, which will be incorporated under the Vie-Del Company brand.

The acquisition includes certain intellectual property, inventory, goodwill, interests in certain contracts and other assets.

The recent deal will expand Vie-Del’s product offerings and bolsters it as a leading supplier of High-Color and standard grape concentrates in North America.


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