Church Brothers acquires Mann Packing assets from Fresh Del Monte
Church Brothers acquires Mann Packing assets from Fresh Del Monte
Church Bros. Farms is acquiring key assets from Fresh Del Monte’s Mann Packing business. The transaction represents a strategic, forward-looking move for both organizations — aligning each company around its core strengths and driving continued progress for the fresh produce industry as a whole.
“This is a complementary move that positions both organizations for success,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Fresh Del Monte’s chairman and CEO. “Church Brothers brings deep vegetable expertise and a strong production footprint, making them the ideal home for Mann Packing and its legacy of innovation. For Fresh Del Monte, this transaction allows us to concentrate fully on our core products and higher-margin, value-added segments — areas where we continue to deliver the quality, reliability and innovation our customers expect. It also reflects our disciplined commitment to long-term growth and shareholder value, ensuring we invest in the categories and capabilities that will define the next chapter of our business.”
Under the agreement, Church Brothers Farms will assume operations at Mann Packing’s state-of-the-art facility in Gonzales, CA. This expansion allows Church Brothers to serve both foodservice and retail markets more comprehensively, operating as a true one-stop shop for customers seeking continuity, quality and convenience. Building on Mann Packing’s legacy of innovation, Church Brothers will integrate its vegetable expertise and value-added capabilities to further strengthen its retail presence.
“As industry leaders in farming, harvesting, processing and marketing premium vegetables, we are honored to steward Mann Packing’s legacy in the Salinas Valley,” said Brian Church, Church Brothers Farms CEO. “This transition marks a pivotal step in our growth journey, reinforcing our commitment to category leadership and accelerating our strategic expansion into retail — an essential pillar of Church Brothers’ future.”
For Fresh Del Monte, the divestiture reflects a disciplined focus on strengthening its core portfolio and driving long-term, sustainable growth. Mann Packing has been an important part of the Fresh Del Monte family for several years, and this transition ensures that its legacy will continue under a company deeply rooted in the vegetable industry. By concentrating resources on high-growth fruit and fresh-cut categories — where it continues to deliver the highest quality and reliability — Fresh Del Monte will enhance operational efficiency, optimize its margin profile, and continue developing opportunities to convert residual materials and byproducts into new value streams — reducing waste and enhancing overall resource efficiency.
For Church Brothers, the acquisition represents a continuation of its steady growth strategy and long-term commitment to the vegetable category. The company plans to leverage the Gonzales facility’s capacity to expand its integrated supply network, enhance service capabilities and deliver greater value to retail and foodservice customers.
With complementary expertise and aligned values, Fresh Del Monte and Church Brothers illustrate how each company leaning into its core strengths can strengthen the broader produce supply chain — supporting quality, consistency and sustainable growth.
“Progress in produce has always come from collaboration and shared purpose,” Abu-Ghazaleh said. “This agreement reinforces that principle — two leaders doubling down on what they do best, creating a more dynamic, customer-focused future for the industry.”
