Bunzl expands food services with triple purchase

Distribution and outsourcing group Bunzl has completed a trio of acquisitions, for undisclosed amounts, in the US, Israel and Australia.

FIrstly, the firm has bought Chicago-based firm FoodHandler, which supplies disposable globs and other food-handling products to the food service sector in the US.

The group, which generated revenue of $99.4m in 2011, has "a leading position in the provision of products relating to food safety and an excellent reputation for quality, innovation and customer service," said Bunzl's Chief Executive Michael Roney.

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"The business will complement our existing foodservice operations and expands our product offering and import programme in this sector," he said.

Meanwhile, Bunzl has also acquired Tel Aviv-based food service packaging group Meichaley Zahev, its second acquisition in Israel which significantly increases its footprint in the region. Zahev's revenue in 2011 was 66.3m Isreali shekel (£10.8m).

Lastly, Queensland-based Star Services International Pty has also been added to Bunzl's portfolio. It supplies food service disposable products to wholesalers and redistributors and "will allow us to penetrate further into the redistribution sector of this market."

"We are pleased to welcome all of their employees to Bunzl," Roney said.

Bunzl spent £185m on acquisitions in the year ended December 31st 2011, which added annualised revenue of more than £200m, the firm said in February.

BC