Japan: Windsor Quality Holdings to be acquired by Ajinomoto

Ajinomoto North America, a consolidated subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co. has entered into an agreement to acquire Windsor Quality Holdings for approximately $800 million.

According to a press release , the acquisition is designed to help the company to become the clear number one manufacturer of Asian/Ethnic food products in the surging Asian category of the North American frozen food market. By using Windsor' s strong distribution network, Ajinomoto Co. plans to increase sales of Gyoza (pot stickers), noodle and rice products in US retail channels and to strengthen its sales platform in food service channels, the company said.

Speaking at a recent press conference in Tokyo Masatoshi Ito, Ajinomoto President, said:  "There's heightened interest in healthy Japanese and Asian cuisine in North America”, adding “We're aiming to become the overwhelming No. 1 in frozen foods in this field".

Ajinomoto said it planned to acquire all Windsor’s shares in early November of this year, retaining Windsor' s current management structure after the acquisition.

Source: Ajinomoto / Food Manufacturing