Ralcorp to Purchase Mayonnaise and Salad Dressing Company

Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (St. Louis) has reached a definitive agreement to purchase Martin Gillet & Co., Inc., a private label manufacturer of mayonnaise and pourable, shelf-stable salad dressings to both retail and foodservice accounts. Annual sales for Martin Gillet total approximately $70 million.

Ralcorp expects to close the transaction within 45 days pending appropriate government approvals. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Ralcorp manufactures private label products in the ready-to-eat and hot cereal, cookie and cracker, and snack nut categories. The acquisition of Martin Gillet represents Ralcorp's further penetration into other consumer categories and will provide a more diversified and broader portfolio of private label offerings.

Martin Gillet has its general offices and a manufacturing plant in Baltimore, MD, with additional plants located in Kansas City, KS, and Los Angeles, CA.