Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. has completed the sale of its Mann Packing operations to Church Brothers Farms, in a strategic move that enables the global produce company to sharpen its focus on core fruit and fresh-cut segments.
The transaction transfers ownership of Mann Packing’s Gonzales, California processing facility to Church Brothers, strengthening the latter’s retail and value-added vegetable capabilities.
Strategic realignment for Fresh Del Monte
The divestiture forms part of Fresh Del Monte’s ongoing portfolio optimization strategy, which prioritises higher-margin fruit and fresh-cut products.
Chairman and CEO Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh said the sale will allow the company to “concentrate fully on our core products and higher-value segments — areas where we continue to deliver the quality, reliability and innovation our customers expect.”
This follows the company’s sale of its Fresh Leaf Farms operations in 2024, as part of a broader plan to improve operational efficiency, streamline its asset base, and divest non-core businesses.
Expansion for Church Brothers Farms
For Church Brothers Farms, the acquisition represents a major step in expanding its value-added vegetable processing capacity and retail market presence.
The integration of Mann Packing’s Gonzales facility provides enhanced processing infrastructure, increasing the company’s ability to serve both retail and foodservice channels.
Church Brothers, a leading supplier of fresh and value-added vegetables, said the deal reinforces its commitment to growing within the retail vegetable category — one of the fastest-evolving segments in the produce market.
Historical context and market focus
Fresh Del Monte first acquired Mann Packing in 2018 as part of a diversification effort into vegetables. However, subsequent reviews indicated that the business was not fully aligned with its core strengths in fruit and fresh-cut operations.
The divestiture underscores the company’s shift toward specialization and efficiency, a trend increasingly seen across the fresh produce industry as companies focus on their most profitable and strategically aligned categories.
Fresh Del Monte said it will continue to invest in high-growth fruit and fresh-cut categories, focusing on improving operational efficiency, sustainability, and product innovation.
The company is also exploring opportunities to convert byproducts and residual materials into new value streams, supporting its environmental and resource efficiency goals.
This latest transaction positions both Fresh Del Monte and Church Brothers Farms to strengthen their respective market positions — Fresh Del Monte in fruit and fresh-cut produce, and Church Brothers in value-added vegetables — as industry consolidation continues to drive strategic realignment across the global fresh produce sector.
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