Ingredion Incorporated, a provider of ingredient solutions to diversified industries, has agreed to acquire Kerr Concentrates, Inc., a privately held producer of natural fruit and vegetable concentrates, purees and essences. The transaction of approximately $100 million is expected to close within 30 business days, pending customary closing conditions.

“Kerr is a profitable company with an exciting portfolio of value-added ingredients that will broaden our current line of wholesome, clean-label solutions. Kerr transforms fruits and vegetables into natural ingredients that resonate with consumers and are increasingly in demand by customers,” said Ilene Gordon, Ingredion CEO. 

Kerr’s ingredients uphold the integrity and richness of raw fruits and vegetables while providing multiple functionalities. These ingredients can be used to enhance the nutrition, texture, flavor and appearance of a number of foods and beverages across a wide variety of categories, from smoothies, juices, dairy products and baked goods to soups and dressings. A single ingredient can add color, flavor and texture to food or beverage products, making it possible to simplify the ingredient list.

“This is an opportunity to grow Kerr’s portfolio with our advanced technologies and product-development capabilities. And we intend to expand the business with our broad customer network and global presence,” Ms. Gordon added. 

The trend toward simple ingredients is rapidly growing and the Kerr acquisition is another step in expanding Ingredion’s clean-label ingredient portfolio. “This extends our clean-label offerings beyond ingredient solutions made from corn, tapioca and potato, and we continue to look for acquisition opportunities in this space,” Ms. Gordon explained.

Based in Salem, OR, Kerr operates two production facilities with state-of-the-art capabilities to ensure consistent quality, efficiency, and safety through process design, automation, and innovation.