Pillsbury Acquires Puerto Rican Dough Company

The Pillsbury Co. (Minneapolis) has purchased Productos Kikuet, Puerto Rico's largest refrigerated dough company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Productos Kikuet is expected to complement Pillsbury's refrigerated dough businesses in the U.S., Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Germany, and Australia. Company officials cited strategic and operational benefits to be realized by acquiring the company, which is focused on Pillsbury's strength in dough products and dough technology.

"Pillsbury has a strong infrastructure in Puerto Rico that will leverage the potential of Productos Kikuet," said Lucio Rizzi, president, Pillsbury International. "We are buying a business with a bright future."

Productos Kikuet was started in 1977 near San Juan. The company began operations producing corn sticks (sorullos), but has expanded to include 124 different items. The company today employs over 170, and maintains two manufacturing facilities.