Solina, a France-based ingredients manufacturer known for its sauces and seasonings, is making significant strides in expanding its presence in the United States through recent acquisitions. The company announced last week that it has acquired Illinois-based Sokol Custom Food Ingredients, a supplier of custom savory and sweet sauces to various sectors including food manufacturing, retail, and foodservice. This acquisition comes on the heels of Solina’s purchase of Advanced Food Systems, Inc., a New Jersey-based supplier of custom dry seasonings for frozen foods, sauces, and meat and poultry.
Solina has been actively pursuing acquisitions in the U.S. to bolster its operations in North America and align them with its capabilities in Europe. The company’s flavorings are widely used in a range of products including meat, snacks, ready-made meals, and alternative proteins. With four acquisitions in the U.S. since 2021 and additional acquisitions in Canada, Solina is making strategic moves to strengthen its market position.
The recent acquisitions of AFS and Sokol have not only expanded Solina’s geographic footprint but also enhanced its commercial offerings. The proximity of Sokol’s location to Solina’s existing site in Bolingbrook, Illinois, has allowed the company to establish a central distribution point in the Midwest. With five sites now in the U.S., including locations in California, Nevada, and New Jersey, Solina is poised for further growth and expansion.
Despite its rapid growth, Solina has had to navigate challenges posed by high input prices, which have put pressure on margins. In response to these challenges, the company announced the closure of the seasoning manufacturing plant of Asenzya, a spice company it acquired in Wisconsin, in October. However, Solina remains focused on its long-term vision of becoming a comprehensive one-stop shop for customized dry and liquid flavor solutions.
Anthony Francheterre, CEO of Solina, emphasized the importance of the recent acquisitions in driving the company’s growth and diversification. He highlighted the goal of expanding product capabilities beyond savory solutions and catering to the evolving needs of customers across various markets and channels. With a strategic focus on innovation and customer-centric solutions, Solina is well-positioned to carve out a strong presence in the competitive U.S. food ingredients market.
