Heinz Expands Global Portfolio with Yoshida's Asian Sauce Line

H. J. Heinz Company has announced that it will acquire Yoshida's North America. Made by Yoshida Food Products Company Limited Partnership of Portland, OR, Yoshida's Asian sauce varieties include stir-fry, gourmet, soy-based, teriyaki and Hawaiian. Sales for the brand exceed $20 million annually.

``Yoshida's is a well-regarded brand and a key player in the Asian sauces business, which is growing in the U.S. at a rate of more than 6% annually,'' noted H. J. Heinz president and CEO William Johnson. ``Asian sauces are important additions to our global portfolio. Last year, we acquired ABC Indonesia, the world's second-largest soy sauce company and in March we entered a joint agreement with Nutri Asia, the top producer of ketchup in the Philippines.''

Yoshida's largest-selling product is Yoshida's Gourmet Sauce, a soy-based Asian sauce. ``The Yoshida's brand is also a leader in the rapidly expanding club store segment, where it holds a 75% market share of its category,'' noted Joe Jimenez, president and CEO of Heinz North America. ``As Americans continue to experiment with international cuisine, prepared sauces are becoming important additions to their pantries.''

Junki Yoshida founded the Yoshida's brand in 1982. Heinz will partner with Mr. Yoshida to promote the sauces throughout North America.

Yoshida Food Products Company will continue to co-pack sauces at its facility in Portland and will maintain its business outside North America, including rights to the Yoshida's trademark.

Terms of the agreement were not released.

Edited by Pam Ahlberg, Managing Editor, Food Online