Kerry Group goes on a $735m buying spree to boost its taste and nutrition portfolio

Kerry Group has splashed out a cool $735m on three US-based companies to expand its taste and nutrition portfolio:  Red Arrow Products, Island Oasis and Biothera Inc's Wellmune business.

In the financial year 2014, the businesses being acquired had annual revenues of $301m and earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $59m.

Wisconsin-based Red Arrow Products is a leading supplier of natural smoke flavors and natural savory grill flavors serving meat, culinary and food industry markets worldwide.

Massachusetts-based Island Oasis makes all-natural premium cocktail mixes and customized beverage solutions serving 'on-premise', restaurant, leisure and hospitality segments of the U.S. market.  

Biothera Inc.'s Wellmune business produces and markets the Wellmune beta-glucan ingredient, which is claimed to strengthen the immune system. Derived from the cell wall of a proprietary strain of baker’s yeast, Wellmune WGP ‘primes’ the innate immune system - the body’s first line of defense against invasion by bacteria and viruses – and can withstand wide pH ranges, high temperatures and harsh processing conditions.

Kerry Group CEO Stan McCarthy said the acquisitions “bring a number of important innovative technology platforms to Kerry”.