FPP Family Investments, the parent company of Perdue Farms, has completed the purchase of Coleman Natural Foods, a producer of natural and organic poultry and meat. The transaction was completed on May 23, three weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) antitrust division closed its investigation of the deal. Coleman Natural Foods will continue as an independent operating company, separate from Perdue Farms and Perdue AgriBusiness, FPP Family investments said.
FPP Family Investments was formed last year to enable the Perdue Family to pursue strategic growth opportunities through the acquisition and creation of independent businesses, brands, products, and services, ” the company said.
DOJ’s investigation “focused on the potential effect of the transaction on competition among chicken processors, also known as integrators, for the purchase of services from chicken growers.” DOJ said in a May 2 press release that, after a thorough review of the evidence, the antitrust division concluded that the facts did not support challenging the proposed transaction and that Perdue’s and Coleman’s facilities do not overlap in any local region.
Coleman, based in Golden, Colorado, owns a BC Natural Chicken plant in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as well as processing plants in Petaluma, California, and Mount Vernon, Washington. The company produces fresh chicken, pork, and goat, sold in grocery stores, specialty retailers, and foodservice operators, including schools. It also sells processed meats and convenience frozen meat products.
“FPP Family Investments views Coleman Natural Foods, with its stable of respected brands and solid management team, as complementary to Perdue Farms, and looks forward to supporting the continued strategic growth of both companies,” the company said in a statement.
