A Georgia-based provider of high-pressure processing and cold storage has acquired Meriden food pasteurizer Stay Fresh Foods LLC.
Universal Pure Holdings LLC, a portfolio company of Chicago-based investment firm Tilia Holdings, announced Wednesday it closed on its purchase of Stay Fresh on July 1 for an undisclosed amount.
Together, Universal said the companies will operate 15 high-pressure processing machines in six locations across the U.S., serving more than 110 customers.
Stay Fresh, operating at 65 Chamberlain Highway, was co-founded by Amy Lawless and Joe Ragozzino in 2012. It has increased its offerings in recent years to include beverage co-packing and launched a 66,000-square-foot New Jersey facility in 2015.
Under the combination, Lawless, reporting to Universal CEO Jeff Williams, will remain as president of Stay Fresh focusing on Northeast sales and the entity’s combined beverage business.
Ragozzino, meantime, will become the general manager of Stay Fresh overseeing daily operations in Connecticut and New Jersey. He will report to Randy Pierce, Universal’s vice president of operations.
“As the demand grows for healthier foods and cleaner ingredient labels, Stay Fresh’s range of capabilities and expertise expands our capacity and geography, enabling us to better serve branded customers, retailers and foodservice companies,” Williams said.
