Markets

Food Industry M&A Activity Doubles

By Ryan Derousseau

Updated on: September 10, 2008 / 8:42 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

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M&A volume in the food industry has doubled in the past two years, with 2,000 transactions in 2007, according to research recently released by Grant Thornton Corporate Finance. This consolidation has been especially active in the snack-food industry, with 125 mergers and acquisitions between 2005 and 2007.

Brian Basil, a GTCF director, expects the trend to continue. "M&A activity will play a big role as many of the larger companies look to augment internal product development with strategic acquisitions," Basil said in an audiocast with Food Processing magazine, "and private equity buyers look for acquisitions of companies with outstanding growth potential."