Strong Roots and McCain Foods have announced a strategic partnership, with McCain Foods investing $55 million USD in the plant-based frozen food company to take a minority stake in the business.
The partnership enables Strong Roots and McCain Foods to continue meeting the rising consumer demand for healthy and natural food globally, the company said.
Strong Roots and McCain Foods will work together to leverage both companies’ complementary strengths to continue Strong Roots’ rapid growth and further its mission to “fix the freezer aisle” and provide plant-based, environmentally responsible, positive food choices, for everyone – globally and impactfully, it added.
Samuel Dennigan, founder and CEO, Strong Roots, said,“As food producers, our role is to be better, food can be better, and our duty is to lead the betterment of ingredients, sourcing, packaging, process and taste, at the same time as working with our partners to achieve this.
“Working in partnership with McCain Foods means that we are able to grow our brand and the values it stands for, while providing us at Strong Roots with the resources and capabilities we need to see change through globally and impactfully,” he added.
Strong Roots said that it will continue to operate in an independent capacity.
Global Presence Expansion
Strong Roots will use McCain Foods’ global presence to expand its own footprint in existing markets, including GB, Ireland, United States, and to enter new markets working with new retailers.
The partnership will also allow Strong Roots to expand into the foodservice market through McCain Foods’ out-of-home network.
'Expanded Product Portfolio'
Partnering with Strong Roots, McCain Foods will gain an expanded product portfolio that reaches out to the rising number of consumers looking for healthy, natural and simple meals that are tasty and include real fruits and vegetables.
The partnership also bolsters McCain Foods’ commitment to planet-friendly foods, the company said.
Strong Roots is focused on creating products that are sustainably farmed, shipped and sold, and was the first Irish plant-based food business awarded a B Corp Certificate in 2020.
Howard Snape, regional president of McCain GB & Ireland, commented, “As a family-run business, we take a long-term approach to everything we do, whether that’s focusing on making our products in a sustainable way to support the planet, or ensuring our food continues to meet constantly changing consumer needs.
“Strong Roots is a company that not only focuses strongly on sustainability but is also doing incredible work to grow the range of healthy frozen foods available when consumers are looking for it most,” he said.
'Rapid Growth'
The recent announcement follows several years of rapid growth for Strong Roots since its inception in 2015.
The food producer’s range of cauliflower hash browns, mixed root vegetable fries, bites and burgers, became a firm favourite of consumers in Ireland, the UK and the US, looking for a convenient plant-based option.
For McCain Foods, the announcement complements a series of investments in recent years ensuring the leading food producer continues to meet the changing consumer tastes globally.
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