Campbell Soup sells European chip operation for $80 million

Campbell Soup Company announced it has signed an agreement for the intended sale of its European chips business to Valeo Foods, a portfolio company of CapVest Partners LLP, for approximately £66 million (approximately $80 million based on current exchange rates). Campbell’s European Chips Business includes UK-based Kettle Foods Limited and Netherlands-based Yellow Chips B.V. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including the relevant regulatory approvals and consultation with employee representative bodies. Campbell will use the proceeds from the divestiture to reduce debt.

Under the terms of the agreement, Campbell will retain the Kettle Brand business in the U.S. and all other geographies except for Europe and the Middle East. Campbell intends to grow the Kettle Brand as an important part of its snacks portfolio, which also includes the Cape Cod, Emerald, Goldfish, Lance, Late July, Milano, Pepperidge Farm, Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps and Snyder’s of Hanover brands.

Based in Norwich, England, Kettle Foods Limited makes hand-cooked crisps, popcorn, rice snacks and vegetable-based chips. Its primary brands are KETTLE Chips and Metcalfe’s skinny popcorn. The sale also includes Netherlands-based Yellow Chips, a producer of vegetable and organic potato chips under private label snacks and its own premium brands, including Go Pure.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2020.