Fontaine Santé Foods buys Campbell Soup's Garden Fresh Gourmet

Quebec-based Fontaine Santé Foods has purchased Garden Fresh Gourmet from Campbell Soup for an undisclosed amount.

The deal includes Garden Fresh Gourmet's two plants in Ferndale and Grand Rapids, Michigan, which collectively employ more than 600.

"We have two goals with this acquisition: to develop and diversify the range of our product offerings and, at the same time, to maintain our small-scale production quality. Our products are satisfying the current demands of consumers," said lawyer and group president Mélissa Latifi, in a press release announcing the deal.

READ: Campbell’s “fresh” push falters

Campbell's purchased the refrigerated salsa maker for US$231 million in 2015 as part of its push into trendy categories such as refrigerated fresh and organic foods. In 2012, it acquired refrigerated beverage brand Bolthouse Farms, which it sold earlier this year to Butterfly Equity for US$510 million.

Campbell’s has been wrestling with declining soup and juice sales in a market crowded with competitors at the same time that many families are seeking foods they consider healthier and less processed.

Fontaine Sante Foods makes hummus, refrigerated dips, salads, pestos and vegetable pates.