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Belgian bakery and chocolate ingredient group Puratos has acquired US-based Vör Foods, a producer of clean label nut pastes and nut-based fillings, as part of its strategy to expand in the fastest-growing segment of sweet goods and improve its US manufacturing footprint.

Vör Foods, headquartered in Trevose, Pennsylvania, supplies pistachio, hazelnut, almond, cashew and blended nut pastes predominantly sourced from the US, offering manufacturers improved traceability and shorter lead times.

The acquisition will allow Puratos to accelerate product development for industrial and artisanal bakers seeking high-quality, on-trend nut-based ingredients.

“The Vör team brings craftsmanship, agility, and impressive speed,” said Andy Brimacombe, president of Puratos North America. “Their expertise and US nut facility make Vör a strong strategic fit for Puratos, enhancing our ability to support customers with reliable, high-quality ingredients and drive sweet goods innovation.”

Vör Foods, founded in 2016, operates an SQF-certified facility designed for flexible production, rapid R&D, and seamless pilot-to-scale transitions.

The Trevose site is located just 35 minutes from Puratos’ US operations, enabling close technical collaboration and the sharing of best practices between the two teams. Puratos plans to invest in the site’s equipment and capacity to meet rising demand for clean label nut solutions.

“Joining Puratos opens an exciting new chapter,” added Frank Steck, CEO of Vör Foods. “We can now combine Vör’s nut expertise with Puratos’ scale, capabilities and global network to bring greater value to our customers.”

Nut-based ingredients are among the fastest-growing categories in bakery, driven by consumer demand for indulgent sweet goods and premium fillings.

Puratos said the acquisition would support manufacturers responding to emerging trends, including the growing popularity of Dubai-style chocolate and other high-value nut products in North America.

Pierre Tossut, CEO of the Puratos Group, commented: “This acquisition elevates our nut-based expertise and allows us to invest at scale in advanced capabilities, innovation and long-term value creation for customers across all markets”.

The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.