Tomra Sorting Solutions has agreed a deal to acquire food sorting equipment manufacturer BBC Technologies for an undisclosed sum.
Tomra will acquire BBC’s range of sorting and packing equipment for small fruits such as blueberries, which will complement Tomra’s existing fruit inspection and grading equipment portfolio.
The company will also acquire the food processing analytics firm Freshtracker from BBC, which will enhance Tomra’s ability to track the characteristics of products from harvesting, processing and packaging through to the point of sale.
BBC Technologies will operate as a division of Tomra Food once the acquisition is completed.
Geoff Furniss, chief executive of BBC Technologies, will continue as the head of BBC Technologies, reporting to Mike Riley, senior vice-president and head of Tomra Food.
Riley said: “This acquisition further increases Tomra’s leadership in grading, sorting, and packaging solutions for fresh, packaged, and processed foods.
“This is just one example of how combining the two companies will generate significant new value and transform the industry.
“With an ever-increasing consumer focus on superfoods such as blueberries, the addition of BBC Technologies to TOMRA’s portfolio allows us to better serve the needs of growers and packers.
“Combined with BBC Technologies, TOMRA now offers the world’s most complete small-fruit sorting and packaging portfolio for large to small pack-houses, and for the growing number of repack and fresh produce distribution centres worldwide.”
Furniss added: “Joining Tomra provides the perfect platform to further enhance our technology and service offerings in all corners of the globe.
As a company built by growers for growers, we respect Tomra’s market leadership, which has been achieved through innovation and partnership with customers, consistent with the principles that have fuelled our own growth at BBC Technologies.”
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