BRUSSELS — Acquiring Fruitapeel, Ltd., which makes fruit and confectionery sauces, will strengthen Puratos position in the U.K. bakery industry, Brussels-based Puratos said when announcing the deal Dec. 18. The acquisition also will enable Puratos UK to develop its expertise in sourcing fruit and producing preservative-free fillings.
Fruitapeel makes chilled, ambient, bake-stable and freeze-thaw-stable products in a variety of pack formats. The company supplies artisan producers and farm shops as well as ice cream, dessert and cake manufacturers. A 50,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Lancashire, United Kingdom, has a capacity of 400 tonnes per week. Terry and Debbie Haigh in 2006 established Fruitapeel, which now employs more than 70 people.
