Fyffes has agreed to sell its Sol Group melon growing and distribution business to US-based Martori Farms.
The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Sol Group comprises Fyffes’ melon production in Honduras and Guatemala, as well as a distribution operation in Miami, Florida.
In a joint statement, the companies said the deal creates “one of the world’s largest year-round melon producers”.
Sol Group is described by the parties as the “largest” supplier of winter melons to customers in North America.
Dublin-based Fyffes said the sale would allow it to “sharpen its focus on core perennial categories – bananas and pineapples – by dedicating resources and expertise to their continued growth and market leadership”.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataMartori Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned grower founded in 1913 with roots in Arizona and California, is known for its Kandy brand melons, including cantaloupe, watermelon, and lemon drop melon.
Fyffes said the combined company’s farming and distribution footprint across the US, Central America and South America creates the world’s “most reliable and diversified” melon supply chain.
Steve Martori III, CEO of Martori Farms, said: “Our goal has always been to deliver melons that exceed consumer expectations melons that delight with flavour, appearance, and quality.
“The acquisition of Sol Group allows us to extend that promise across all 12 months of the year, while working with an extraordinary team of professionals who share our dedication to quality and sustainability.”
In March, Martori Farms acquired the assets of VH Azhderian & Co., expanding in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
At the time, Martori Farms said it intended to use the Los Banos facility to bolster production, cooling, storage and distribution nationwide.
