The specialist in rapid food safety and environmental sanitation testing has acquired Pruebas Microbiologicas Rapidas (PMR) that had served as an independent partner serving Mexico.
PMR had been a distributor for Hygiena for more than 10 years and were one of about 80 distributors worldwide.
The Warburg Pincus portfolio company said it will be known as Hygiena Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
Establishing global representation
Hygiena said Hygiena Mexico creates a permanent presence in the region as the company continues to grow and provide hygiene monitoring and molecular diagnostic equipment to customers in food safety, healthcare and other fields.
PMR had given a valuable presence in Mexico and Latin America but not as much as a formal subsidiary would.
The firm has subsidiaries in Europe/Asia (Watford, England and Shanghai, China).
“Much of Latin America’s food production (farms) ends up in the US. Thus, these imports fall under new FSMA rules/regulations which require the food safety/preventive protocols that our products can help with.
“Because of these imports and FSMA, we’ve been feeling more demand for our food safety testing products from all over Latin America (from our SystemSURE Plus ATP system to the BAX PCR systems). By establishing a subsidiary, this marks a start to ensuring more efficient product delivery and boosting regional sales and technical support for customers there.”
Hygiena Mexico presence
PMR was purchased from Oscar Lozano Ferral, owner/proprietor of the firm, who will continue working for Hygiena Mexico.
Hygiena Mexico will continue in its headquarters in Mexico City with six satellite locations: Monterrey, Guadalajara, Querétaro, Torreón, Cancún and Aguascalientes.
The firm will have nine employees with more potentially added in the future.
Steven Nason, CEO of Hygiena, said Hygiena Mexico will look to capture growing opportunities in the country.
“This acquisition is part of Hygiena’s overall strategy to increase access, service and support of its products around the globe.”
The company will market Hygiena products, including the BAX System PCR instruments and RiboPrinter System DNA fingerprinting system and other non-Hygiena branded item.