NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2019 (PRNewswire) — Roland Foods, LLC, a portfolio company of Vestar Capital Partners, has closed the acquisition of Albert Uster Imports, Inc. ("AUI"). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, AUI has been a leading importer of specialty pastry, bakery and confectionery products to professional chefs and bakers for 50 years. AUI sources products from more than 150 global suppliers, including exclusive distribution arrangements with best-in-class brands such as Felchlin, HUG, Ponthier, Laderach and PCB Creation, among others.
Roland Foods, founded in 1934, is a leading importer of specialty food products, providing more than 1,500 globally sourced SKUs to North American and international foodservice, retail, and industrial customers. Roland Foods has been a portfolio company of Vestar since 2013.
"The acquisition of AUI establishes Roland Foods as a leading platform within the specialty foods landscape," said James Wagner, CEO of Roland Foods. "This acquisition doubles Roland Foods' portfolio of unique, hard-to-source specialty products, increases our presence in the growing pastry and confections product lines, and offers us entry into the frozen and refrigerated categories."
"AUI and Roland Foods have much in common as global leaders in the imported specialty foods niche," said Philipp Braun, CEO of AUI. "However, there is little product overlap and each company brings complementary products and services to the combination. The resources and expertise that AUI can now tap through Roland Foods will accelerate our ambitious plans for both product and customer expansion."
About Roland Foods
Roland Foods, based in New York City, specializes in importing high-quality specialty food products from more than 50 countries. Founded in Paris in 1934 and established in the U.S. in 1939, the Company provides customers with exceptional specialty foods, primarily offered under the Roland brand. The company has a national presence in the foodservice, retail, and industrial channels as well as international sales in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Roland Foods' dedication to providing quality and consistency has made it a leader among food importers and suppliers. The Roland brand is synonymous with quality for the consumer and chef alike. For more information, please visit www.rolandfoods.com.
