SCHILLER PARK, IL - Competition in Texas’ berry market just tightened up as Sun Belle has closed on its acquisition of CoolHouse Distribution Center business and its 35,000-square-foot refrigerated facility in Laredo, Texas. Janice L. Honigberg, President of Sun Belle, announced that next week the company will be installing blueberry packing and heat seal lines which will include innovative heat seal pint and 18-ounce packaging of Mexican blueberries destined for the U.S. market.
“We are making a significant investment in the growth of our berry business in the U.S. following our recently announced long-term exclusive agreement with Giddings Fruit Mexico for Sun Belle to market all of Giddings Mexico’s conventional and organic blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries,” Honigberg explained.
This installation marks the company’s second heat seal line as Sun Belle also packs clamshells and heat seal blueberries in its Jessup, Maryland, facility.
According to a press release, Sun Belle will retain the CoolHouse Distribution Center business and establish Sun Belle Laredo to deliver berries directly to customers in the south and southwest as well service customer pick-ups.
Sun Belle is a year-round marketer and distributor of a full line of conventional and organic berries and pomegranate arils, principally sold under the Sun Belle and Green Belle brands, with distribution centers in Schiller Park, Illinois; Jessup, Maryland; Oxnard, California; and Miami, Florida in addition to Laredo. Sun Belle supports retail, club, wholesale, and foodservice customers throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. The company is recognized for its commitment and service to its customers, its dedication to quality, and its ability to fulfill mixed berry programs.
“We greatly appreciate Sun Belle’s investment in a Texas distribution center and in the packaging technologies that will reduce plastic use,” Patricio Cortes, General Manager and Co-Founder of Giddings Mexico, said. "Their initiatives offer tremendous flexibility in bringing fruit to market. This investment by Sun Belle parallels our own commitment at Giddings Mexico to develop excellent new berry varieties and growing practices.”
Lucy Montemayor, previous Owner of CoolHouse, is now General Manager of Sun Belle Laredo. She will oversee Sun Belle’s packing and shipping operations as well as daily transloads for Sun Belle and others.
Movers and shakers across the industry are keeping the bar high on fresh produce and we could not be more excitied. Congratulations to Sun Belle on this advantageous acquisition!
