WINONA, Minn. & RICHMOND, Va., Oct 3 — Watkins, LLC (“The Watkins Company”) today announced it has completed its acquisition of the Sauer Brands, Inc. (“Sauer Brands”) spice business. The combination brings together two businesses with roots in flavor dating to the 1800s, creating a flavor company with a broader portfolio, deeper manufacturing capabilities and the scale to help serve consumers wherever and however they experience flavor.
The acquisition adds three well-loved brands, Kernel Season’s, Spice Hunter, and Sauer’s, along with Sauer Brands’ spice-related foodservice and private-label businesses and manufacturing facilities. Combined with Watkins’ more than 150 years of flavor expertise, the additions position the company to lead in the category, from the grocery aisle and home kitchen to restaurants, movie theaters, and products made for retail and foodservice partners.
The acquisition marks a significant step forward in Watkins’ growth and evolution. “This is a defining moment for Watkins, one that significantly expands our ambitions in flavor,” said J.R. Rigley, CEO of The Watkins Company. “For more than 150 years, Watkins has built its reputation on deep expertise and creating products people love. With the addition of Sauer’s brands, capabilities, and talented teams, we have a platform to put that expertise to work on a new scale. We believe Watkins has an opportunity to shape what comes next in flavor, and we’re excited to get to work.”
“We are pleased to complete this transaction and believe Watkins is well positioned to carry our leading spice brands forward,” said E. Yuri Hermida, CEO of Sauer Brands. “We are grateful to the employees who have contributed to the success of the business and wish them and Watkins continued success.”
Watkins will build on the heritage and strengths of each acquired brand while applying the combined company’s expanded capabilities to help accelerate flavor innovation across retail, foodservice and private label.
