Total Produce has announced it will pay an initial €9.5 million (£7.5m) in cash for a 60 per cent stake in Dutch salad firms Haluco and Nedalpac.

The Bleiswijk-based companies are both suppliers of salad products to a network of customers across Europe.

Earlier this month, in a separate deal, Total Produce acquired the Haluco wholesale business in Birmingham market.

"This will further enhance our spread of business, and our product offering," Total Produce Chairman Carl McCann said. A further consideration of up to €13.5m will be paid in 2011 if profit targets are met.

Analyst Liam Igoe, of Goodbody Stockbrokers, is reported to have already estimated that the deal will add more than nine per cent to Total Produce's full-year earnings.