American Dehydrated Foods sells Verona plant

Springfield-based American Dehydrated Foods Inc. has sold one of its two Verona manufacturing plants to Des Moines, Iowa-based Kemin Industries Inc.

The acquisition, which went into effect today, includes ADF’s spray-dried meat protein manufacturing facility, known as the Verona South plant, as well as spray-dried products and technology for use in premium pet food production, according to a joint news release. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

ADF, a manufacturer and seller of spray-dried egg and powdered chicken products for the premium pet food industry, will continue to own and operate its drying facilities at the Verona North plant and in Social Circle, Ga., the release said.

“We have long been impressed by ADF and its operation and are pleased to welcome the ADF employees at the Verona South plant to the Kemin family,” said Giuseppe Abrate, president of Kemin’s pet food division, in the release.

Kemin plans on installing new processing equipment to produce Kemin’s Palasurance brand designed to improve palatability of its dog and cat foods, and the company will continue to support select spray-dried meat products originally produced by ADF, the release said.

“We are confident that the Verona South employees will flourish under Kemin’s global growth strategy,” added ADF President and CEO Kurt Hellweg, in the release. “ADF will continue to produce its remaining lines of high-quality protein and fat ingredients for our customers in the pet food industry.”

ADF was founded in 1978 by Bill Darr, who Springfield Business Journal will recognize with a Lifetime Achievement in Business Award during the July 21 Economic Impact Awards. Darr also founded International Dehydrated Foods, which provides processed meat and poultry ingredients for food service and food manufacturing served in fresh, frozen and concentrated forms.

The 50-year-old, privately-held Kemin corporation employs more than 1,300 employees and operates in 60 countries with manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.[[In-content Ad]]