New Iberia-based Bruce Foods Corp. has sold the rights to The Original Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce and five other hot sauce brands to Rome, Georgia-based Southeastern Mills Inc. Terms of the deal—which was announced today and also includes all intellectual rights to Bruce Foods’ hot sauce business and its New Iberia manufacturing and warehouse facilities—were not disclosed.
Bruce Foods CEO J.S. “Si” Brown III says in a prepared statement that Southeastern Mills is a family-owned business that will be a good steward of The Original Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce and others included in the deal: Louisiana wing sauce, Red Rooster hot sauce, Louisiana Gold Pepper Sauce, Louisiana brand Tabasco Peppers in Vinegar and Bruce’s Tabasco Peppers in Vinegar.
Norman Brown Sr., Bruce Foods chairman and vice president, adds that “finding the right buyer was important to us. We believe that the transition of the business will be seamless for our customers.”
Southeastern Mills says the acquired brands will operate under the company name The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce Company. The Georgia company has three segments in the food industry, with industrial, food service and branded consumer operations. Among its branded consumer operations are brands such as Shore Lunch soups and breadings, Better than Bouillon food bases and Crockery Gourmet seasoning mixes.
“This strategic acquisition adds yet another strong brand to the growing Southeastern Mills family,” says Southeastern Mills President Linda Owens in a prepared statement. “Hot sauces and bold flavors are rapidly growing in popularity, and the Original Louisiana hot sauce products have helped drive that growth. We’re excited about this addition, as it strengthens our retail portfolio and gives us more products to sell to our food service and industrial customers.”
