Solina Expands Its North American Footprint with Sokol Custom Food Ingredients Acquisition
In a recent strategic move, Solina has successfully acquired Sokol Custom Food Ingredients, a prominent player in the U.S. food industry. This acquisition, officially announced on February 6, 2025, marks an important step for Solina as it aims to enhance its portfolio of food solutions within North America. Prior to this development, Solina had already made headlines with its December 2024 acquisition of Advanced Food Systems, Inc. (AFS), highlighting its aggressive expansion in the region.
Sokol Custom Food Ingredients, based in Countryside, Illinois, specializes in both sweet and savoury sauces, serving various channels including food manufacturing, retail, and foodservice. This strategic alignment with Sokol is anticipated to significantly augment Solina USA's capabilities in sweet sauce production, while also expanding its operational capacity and reinforcing its resilient supply chain. Anthony Francheterre, Global CEO of Solina, states, "Sokol's business complements our operations perfectly, offering a distinct entry into sweet sauces that broadens our existing expertise."
The synergies between Solina and Sokol are expected to create a potent combination of manufacturing capabilities, innovation, and customer-centric ideation, backed by a culinary-driven research and development (R&D) team. Michael Marks, President of Solina USA, elaborated on the benefits this acquisition brings: "By integrating Sokol’s sweet sauce offerings, we further our goal of becoming the go-to destination for diverse liquid flavour solutions."
Strategically located near Solina's existing facility in Bolingbrook, Illinois, this acquisition adds another layer of strength to Solina's distribution network in the Midwest. The recent acquisition marks Solina's fourth significant venture within the United States, following previous acquisitions in 2021 and 2022, as they continue to grow their presence in this fertile market.
During the transition period, leadership of the integration will be shared between Mark Duffy, Regional CEO of Solina North America, and Michael Marks, while Sokol's management will maintain day-to-day operations to ensure stability and continuity during this critical phase. Shawn Sullivan, CEO of Sokol, expressed enthusiasm about joining forces with Solina, indicating that their partnership is set to unlock new growth opportunities and enhance service for their customers.
As Sokol celebrates its 130 years of innovation in the food sector, Tim Novak, a partner at Burlington Capital Partners, acknowledged this acquisition as a transformative moment for the company. He stated, "This milestone represents not only a celebration of Sokol's rich history but also a vision for future growth under Solina's leadership."
Founded in Chicago over a century ago, Sokol has built its reputation by offering custom formulations and contract manufacturing solutions for major food brands. With a workforce of over 100 employees at its Countryside facility, their operations include a broad range of products, from sweet and savoury sauces to essential ingredients like almond paste.
As Solina continues to integrate Sokol into its family of brands, the combined forces are tasked with not only retaining the essence of Sokol’s legacy but also pioneering innovative solutions that cater to a wide array of customer needs in the food industry. With a firm footing in both the savoury and sweet segments, Solina is poised to become a leader in the global food market, delivering exceptional taste and high-quality ingredients across North America and beyond.
Sokol Custom Food Ingredients, based in Countryside, Illinois, specializes in both sweet and savoury sauces, serving various channels including food manufacturing, retail, and foodservice. This strategic alignment with Sokol is anticipated to significantly augment Solina USA's capabilities in sweet sauce production, while also expanding its operational capacity and reinforcing its resilient supply chain. Anthony Francheterre, Global CEO of Solina, states, "Sokol's business complements our operations perfectly, offering a distinct entry into sweet sauces that broadens our existing expertise."
The synergies between Solina and Sokol are expected to create a potent combination of manufacturing capabilities, innovation, and customer-centric ideation, backed by a culinary-driven research and development (R&D) team. Michael Marks, President of Solina USA, elaborated on the benefits this acquisition brings: "By integrating Sokol’s sweet sauce offerings, we further our goal of becoming the go-to destination for diverse liquid flavour solutions."
Strategically located near Solina's existing facility in Bolingbrook, Illinois, this acquisition adds another layer of strength to Solina's distribution network in the Midwest. The recent acquisition marks Solina's fourth significant venture within the United States, following previous acquisitions in 2021 and 2022, as they continue to grow their presence in this fertile market.
During the transition period, leadership of the integration will be shared between Mark Duffy, Regional CEO of Solina North America, and Michael Marks, while Sokol's management will maintain day-to-day operations to ensure stability and continuity during this critical phase. Shawn Sullivan, CEO of Sokol, expressed enthusiasm about joining forces with Solina, indicating that their partnership is set to unlock new growth opportunities and enhance service for their customers.
As Sokol celebrates its 130 years of innovation in the food sector, Tim Novak, a partner at Burlington Capital Partners, acknowledged this acquisition as a transformative moment for the company. He stated, "This milestone represents not only a celebration of Sokol's rich history but also a vision for future growth under Solina's leadership."
Founded in Chicago over a century ago, Sokol has built its reputation by offering custom formulations and contract manufacturing solutions for major food brands. With a workforce of over 100 employees at its Countryside facility, their operations include a broad range of products, from sweet and savoury sauces to essential ingredients like almond paste.
As Solina continues to integrate Sokol into its family of brands, the combined forces are tasked with not only retaining the essence of Sokol’s legacy but also pioneering innovative solutions that cater to a wide array of customer needs in the food industry. With a firm footing in both the savoury and sweet segments, Solina is poised to become a leader in the global food market, delivering exceptional taste and high-quality ingredients across North America and beyond.
Topics Consumer Products & Retail）
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