IF&P Foods LLC — the merged Indianapolis Fruit and Piazza Produce — has acquired made-to-order packaged convenience foods company Cibus Fresh Inc.
The purchase allows Indianapolis Fruit and Piazza Produce, both of Indianapolis, to expand grab-and-go products to include chef curated sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads, salads, snack packs and parfait cups, according to a news release. Cibus Fresh, Noblesville, Ind., has an 11,000 square-foot kitchen that’s been inspected by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the release.
“By combining Cibus Fresh’s unique approach to fresh convenient foods with our extensive expertise in produce and specialty foods distribution, we’re primed to exceed our customers’ expectations with new offerings, quality and speed of delivery,” Greg Corsaro, president and CEO of IF&P Foods, said in the release.
More than 60 food varieties will be added to the IF&P Foods’ product lines with the acquisition, and more are planned.
“We’re thrilled to become a part of the IF&P Foods family,” Kurt Layer, co-founder of Cibus Fresh, said in the release. “Having access to more resources means we can get even more creative in the design and delivery of our culinary creations. Together we can advance the convenience food industry in ways we could never do alone.”
Cibus Fresh employees will remain with the company, including co-founders Layer and Bill Pitrelli.
Indianapolis Fruit and Piazza Produce merged in 1997 to form IF&P Foods. Indianapolis Fruit distributes to independent grocers and grocery chains, and Piazza Produce distributes to foodservice operators, according to the release.