Cargill, Inc., Wichita, Kan., signed an agreement to acquire Five Star Custom Foods, Ltd., a Fort Worth, Texas-based processor of cooked protein products and custom prepared soups and sauces for the foodservice and food processing sectors. 

The acquisition includes both of the Five Star Custom Foods facilities in Fort Worth and Nashville, Tenn. Adding Five Star Custom Foods to the Cargill family will enhance the company’s existing cooked protein capabilities, optimize supply chain efficiencies and provide innovation opportunities. 

“We’re thrilled with the opportunity to add Five Star Custom Foods to the Cargill family because it has a record of proven success producing high-quality, value-added, customized products that delight its customers,” says Brian Sikes, corporate vice president of Cargill’s protein businesses.  “We are acquiring an excellent company with talented people who do an outstanding job delivering a 5-star experience to their customers, helping them to succeed and grow.

“Adding Five Star Custom Foods to Cargill’s protein business will provide us with new capabilities we currently do not have, while allowing us to be more nimble in our ability to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers and consumers in today’s fast-paced marketplace,” adds Sikes.  “We will also learn from the proven success of the Five Star Custom Foods team, which will allow us to enhance our own portfolio, as we continue to grow our protein business.”

“Cargill is a company with a rich history and reputation for producing exceptional products,” says Jeff Bledsoe, president and founding partner of Five Star Custom Foods. “Together, we share a commitment for taking care of employees and nurturing customer relationships. As we look toward the future, we are excited by Cargill’s commitment to excellence and long-term profitable growth. We truly believe this to be a ‘winning’ scenario for everyone involved.”

“We take great pride in our ability to deliver high-quality, safe and nutritious food to people around the world,” says John Keating, president of Cargill Meats Solutions Corp. “These two locations in Fort Worth and Nashville fit well with Cargill’s existing U.S. geographic footprint, and we look forward to sharing our vision and passion for protein with the Five Star Custom Foods team.”