Sysco acquires food service division of Keelings’ Group

Sysco Corporation has acquired the food service division of Keelings’ group, which specialises in fresh produce, employs 160 and has operations based in Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Wexford.

Reporting through Pallas Foods, the business will retain its existing brand identity and management team.  All employees will remain with the business.

The wider Keelings Group, headquartered in North County Dublin, has operations in Ireland, the UK, Europe and Asia. Keelings is a fresh produce specialist and is the largest grower of fruit in Ireland. The Keelings Group will continue to operate its retail, market, international and solutions divisions.

Tim Geary, Chairman of Pallas Foods, said: “Keelings’ food services’ business is a strong entity with excellent people, produce and customer relationships.  This investment provides us additional strategic opportunities in Ireland and offers our existing customers, and those of Keelings, a wider and broader choice.  We look forward to working with Keelings and positioning this investment for further growth in the years ahead.”

Joseph Keeling, CEO and Chairman of Keelings Group, said: “This is a good transaction all round for both Keelings Group and Sysco, but more importantly, it is a good transaction for our growing customer base across the island of Ireland and our highly committed and skilled workforce. The transaction provides the business with a number of benefits, particularly access to Sysco’s scale and expertise. Working with its new owners, Keelings’ food services division looks forward to continuing to improve our service to our customers.”

Sysco is a global name in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the food-service and hospitality industries. The company operates 185 distribution facilities serving over 400,000 customers.