Spice maker McCormick buys Reckitt Benckiser’s food brands
LONDON (AP) – U.S. spice maker McCormick & Company has bought Reckitt Benckiser’s food business in a $4.2 billion deal.
The American company fought off rival bidders to purchase French’s mustard and Frank’s RedHot brands.
The deal will create a combined group with annual sales of around $5 billion.
Lawrence E. Kurzius, McCormick’s CEO, says the deal will allow the company to create “an even more diverse and complete flavor product offering.”
It comes as Reckitt re-focuses the group on consumer health and hygiene products after it bought U.S. baby formula maker Mead Johnson in a move that will help the company grow in China.
Shore Capital analyst Darren Shirley says Reckitt “is achieving a very attractive valuation for a North American food business, in our view.”