Juice maker Ocean Spray to buy Quebec cranberry processing plant
by The Canadian Press
Atoka Cranberries began as a farming operation in 1984. It moved into processing shortly after and now employs about 130 people
Ocean Spray operates eight food and beverage processing plants in the U.S., as well as one in Chile
MANSEAU, Que.—Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. signed a deal Feb. 2 to buy Quebec’s Atoka Cranberries Inc. from the Bieler Group.
Financial terms of the agreement were not immediately available.
In addition to acquiring the Atoka brand and processing facility, Ocean Spray says it intends to purchase the Bieler Group’s freezer and receiving facilities in the coming year.
Atoka, based in Manseau, Que., was founded in 1984 as a cranberry farming operation and quickly moved into processing. It now employs about 130 workers.
The Bieler Group is expected to retain its cranberry growing operations and become a farmer-owner of the Ocean Spray Co-operative.
Ocean Spray is a co-operative owned by more than 700 cranberry growers in the United States, Canada and Chile.
