Heinz to Acquire Leading German Soup Company

H. J. Heinz Company (Pittsburgh, PA) has entered an agreement to acquire the convenience meals business of Sonnen Bassermann from Danone Group with headquarters in Seesen, Germany. Sonnen Bassermann is that country's leading marketer of ready-to-serve soups and meals, with more than US$50 million in annual sales. Its flagship products are soups, stews and shelf-stable entrees sold under the Sonnen Bassermann brand name.

"Sonnen Bassermann perfectly complements our U.K. convenience meals business, where Heinz is number one in canned soups, beans, and canned pasta," noted William R. Johnson, Heinz's president and CEO. "Soups, stews and 'ready' or 'convenience' meals meet a growing consumer need for branded, great-tasting foods that can be prepared in less than 10 minutes."

The Sonnen Bassermann brand has been one of the leading brands of Germany since 1886, the same year Heinz began its U.K. operations.

Convenience meals represent one of H. J. Heinz Company's eight core categories. The company is a leader in soups, meals and pasta in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of Asia/Pacific. Sonnen Bassermann operates a major factory in Seesen, where it employs approximately 160 people.