Ajinomoto North America, Inc., a Fort Lee, N.J.-based consolidated subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. in Japan, entered into an agreement to acquire Windsor Quality Holdings, LP, an ethnic frozen foods processor based in Houston, Texas, for approximately $800 million.

By combining Windsor' s marketing power, knowledge of U.S. consumers, distribution and sales capabilities and production footprints throughout the United States with AJINA' s strengths in healthy and high-quality frozen foods products, Ajinomoto will accelerate its growth to achieve its fiscal 2020 sales target of JPY 100 billion for its frozen food business in North America and secure its position as the No. 1 manufacturer in the Asian/ethnic frozen food market.

Windsor has developed a broad distribution network in the United States, producing Asian, Mexican and Italian frozen meals and appetizers in about 80,000 retail stores under the José Olé, Ling Ling Asian Kitchen, Tai Pei and VIP brandsand 120,000 restaurants under the Bernardi, The Original Chili Bowl, Fred’s for starters, Golden Tiger, Posada and Whitey’s brands.

By using Windsor' s strong distribution network, Ajinomoto plans to increase sales of Gyoza (pot stickers), noodle and rice products in U.S. retail channels and strengthen its sales platform in foodservice channels.

The Ajinomoto Group will retain Windsor' s current management structure after the acquisition.