Scottish food company Baxters Food Group has acquired Jensen’s Choice Foods through its Australian subsidiary Baxters Food Australia.
Jensen’s Choice, founded in 1984 by Stig and Kate Jensen, operates predominantly in the retail category with its brands Jensen’s Organic and Aunty Kath’s Cookie Dough, as well as carrying out contract manufacturing of private label brands for all of the major grocery retailers. Jensen’s product range includes pasta sauces, salsa dips, wet spices, passata, fruit spreads, cookie dough, mustards and simmer sauces.
Jensen’s CEO Ross Mudford has taken on the role of managing director for Baxters Food Australia. He told F&DB that the two businesses complement each other and that the acquisition would help Baxters’ Australian division, which operates chiefly in the foodservice industry, to grow its retail business.
The two companies are currently under review as Baxters looks to increase efficiencies and take costs out of the business. Until further notice, Baxters will continue to operate out of its existing Campbellfield facility and Jensen’s will continue to operate as a separate business from its Huntingdale factory.
In the UK, Baxters has a major retail presence, producing soups, preserves, condiments and chutneys. It also has operations in Canada and Poland.
