CHATSWOOD, Australia, Aug. 9 -- The Smith's Snackfood Company, Australia's leading snack maker, today announced it has acquired Sakata Rice Snacks Australia.
Smith's, which is part of PepsiCo International, is the leader in Australia's salty snack market. Its largest brands include Smith's, Doritos, Twisties, Red Rock Deli, Parkers and Nobby's.
Sakata is the market leader in rice snacks, a snack category that has enjoyed rapid growth over the last several years. Its products include SA..KA..TA Rice Crackers, Snakatas, Occasions and the new Apero range, all of which are made in Australia.
Smith's has acquired all assets of Sakata in Australia, including its manufacturing facility in North Laverton, Victoria, which will continue to produce Sakata products. Smith's also has acquired worldwide rights, excluding Japan, to manufacture, distribute and market Sakata products.
"Sakata is a wonderful company and an outstanding fit with the Smith's business," said Alex Stevens, managing director of The Smith's Snackfood Company. "Bringing these great companies together gives us a strong position in the fast-growing rice snack category. By leveraging our global snack innovation capability and our strong distribution systems, we intend to bring a full range of exciting Sakata products to consumers across Australia. We also see a significant opportunity in expanding Sakata's rapidly growing export business."
Stevens said that adding rice-based snacks is consistent with the Smith's strategy of growing rapidly in the area of "better for you" snacks.
Hiroshi Suzukawa, a founding director of Sakata, said he had been looking for an appropriate partner to support the business in fulfilling its potential. Mr. Suzukawa said: "I am pleased that we have reached this agreement and it is clear to me that Smith's and PepsiCo will bring outstanding marketing, innovation and distribution expertise to the business, which will see the market position of the Sakata brands significantly strengthened, not only in Australia, but also globally."
PepsiCo International comprises all of the businesses outside the United States and Canada of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), one of the world's largest food and beverage companies. PepsiCo's portfolio includes 16 brands that each generates retail sales in excess of A$1.3 Billion (US$1 billion), including Pepsi, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lay's, Doritos and Quaker.
Terms of the sale were not disclosed.