Chiquita subsidiary Fresh Express has announced the acquisition of Verdelli Farms - one of the premier regional processors of value-added salads, vegetables and fruit snacks on the US east coast.

The company, which markets its products under the Harvest Select and Verdelli Farms brands, operates in 10 states from Massachusetts to Virginia. It will be fully integrated into Chiquita’s Fresh Express business.

“The acquisition of Verdelli Farms, with its focus on meeting the needs of consumers for fresh, healthy and convenient foods, superior food safety and strong customer relationships, is a great fit within our sustainable growth strategy and an excellent complement to our Fresh Express brand,” said Fernando Aguirre, chairman and chief executive officer of Chiquita Brands International. “The acquisition accelerates our expansion into the north-eastern US, where there is strong demand from the largest concentration of value-added salads consumers in the country, but where the Fresh Express brand has been under-represented.”

Dan, Mike and Jen Verdelli, as well as other members of Verdelli Farms’ management team, will remain with the company following the acquisition. “Their leadership talent is a good cultural fit with our focus on innovative value-added products, food safety, freshness, customer service and category development,” said Aguirre.

Fresh Express is the market-leading brand of value-added salads, with a total US market share of some 47 per cent. Through the Verdelli acquisition, Fresh Express hopes to expand its market share in the north-eastern region beyond its current 30 per cent.

It will also achieve up to a two-day improvement in the freshness of salads it delivers to customers and consumers in the northeast.

Verdelli Farms is a third-generation, family-owned business founded in 1924. The company employs approximately 400 people and has annual revenues of approximately $80 million. In 2006, the company produced more than 8 million cases of fresh salads, vegetables and fruit snacks for more than 80 customers.