New Ownership for Del Monte Brands

Del Monte Foods is being split and sold to three separate companies following its July 2025 bankruptcy. In a series of deals expected to close by the end of March 2026, Fresh Del Monte Produce, B&G Foods, and Pacific Coast Producers will take over the company’s main business lines. This move is significant for the industry because it finally puts the “Del Monte” name back under one owner for the first time in forty years, merging fresh produce and shelf-stable products into a single business strategy.

Fresh Del Monte Produce is the biggest buyer in this shake-up. They are paying $285 million to take over the vegetable, tomato, and refrigerated fruit lines. For tomato processors, this means major brands like Contadina and Take Root Organics, as well as the Del Monte and S&W tomato lines, will now be run by a company that specializes in fresh supply chains. The deal also includes several key processing plants in Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Washington, plus two sites in Mexico and one in Venezuela.

While Fresh Del Monte acquires several production sites, other key infrastructure has already transitioned. The 670,000-square-foot Hanford processing plant was acquired by Morning Star Tomatoes. However, Morning Star owner Chris Rufer clarified that the purchase was intended to facilitate a resale to a new operator rather than for expansion. Following this, an industrial auction conducted by Rabin Worldwide was scheduled for December 2025 to sell off the facility’s specialized equipment, including large-scale canning and vegetable processing systems. The closure of the Hanford site, which resulted in 378 layoffs, highlights broader industry challenges as processors consolidate in response to declining canned tomato popularity among younger consumers.

Other parts of the business are going to different specialists. B&G Foods is buying the broth and stock segment, including College Inn and Kitchen Basics, for about $110 million. Meanwhile, Pacific Coast Producers—a California-based canning cooperative—will handle the shelf-stable fruit business. They will now have the rights to use the Del Monte and S&W labels for canned fruits and sauces in the U.S. and Mexico markets.

The goal behind this reorganization is to bridge the gap between the produce aisle and the pantry. Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and CEO of Fresh Del Monte, noted that bringing the brand back together reflects a long-held conviction. He stated, “By uniting fresh and shelf-stable food under one strategy, we are honoring the brand’s legacy while supporting it for continued relevance and growth.” The new owners want a more flexible platform that can react faster to consumer demands rather than treating fresh and canned foods as separate worlds.

As the handoff happens over the next few months, the new owners plan to run these brands through dedicated business units to keep things moving smoothly. While the company structure is changing, there are no immediate plans to change the products currently on store shelves. For the rest of the industry, this marks a shift toward more integrated competitors who control everything from the field to the can.

Sources: Food Business EMEA, Food Processing, PR Newswire