Tyson Foods has entered an agreement to sell its Circle Foods operations to Ajinomoto Windsor, a leading manufacturer of Asian and ethnic foods and appetizers.
According to a statement from Tyson Foods, the transaction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2018, and the companies are working on a transition plan. Terms of the planned transaction have not been released.
Tyson also stated that it plans to retain some elements of its San Diego operations.
Tyson acquired Circle Foods, a producer of frozen and refrigerated handheld Mexican foods, uncooked tortillas and Indian flatbreads, in 2013. Included in that acquisition was Circle Foods’ 159,000-square-foot facility in San Diego, which was built in 2008.
Circle Foods has been in business for 30 years, and is known for branded products that include Nuevo Grille and Tortillaland handheld Mexican products, Tortillaland uncooked tortillas and Rotiland Indian flatbreads.
At the time, then-Tyson Foods CEO Donnie Smith said Circle Foods, with a fantastic plant and workforce, would be an excellent fit within Tyson Foods’ branded consumer products group.
However, Tyson Foods more recently announced that it was divesting of some of its businesses that are less focused on protein products.
Since the time that announcement was made, Tyson Foods sold Kettle, a maker of sauces, dips, soups and side dishes, for $125 million, but did not disclose the identity of the buyer. That acquisition was finalized at the end of 2017.
Ajinomoto Windsor, according to its website, was established in 2015 after Windsor Foods became a member of the Ajinomoto Co. Headquartered in Japan, Ajinomoto Co. is a global manufacturer of high-quality seasonings, processed foods, beverages, amino acids, pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals.
