Mars Food to acquire Tasty Bite parent company

BRUSSELS — Mars Food will be adding to its portfolio of ready-to-eat products with its acquisition of Preferred Brand International. The Stamford, Conn.-based company makes all-natural, ready-to-eat Indian and Asian food offerings that are primarily sold under the Tasty Bite brand.

Tasty Bite’s portfolio includes vegetarian offerings that include Indian and Asian entrees, spice and simmer meal kits, organic rice and lentils. The brand’s sales are primarily focused in North America, but manufactures products for sale at retailers in the United Kingdom and Australia, as well as through food service in India.

"Tasty Bite’s broad range of dinner time products, focused on Indian and Asian cuisines, makes it a natural complement to our existing portfolio,” Mars Food global president Fiona Dawson said. “Tasty Bite is a fast growing Indian/Asian dinner time brand. Upon closing of the acquisition of Tasty Bite, Mars Food will expand our all-natural vegetarian offerings in the US, and leverage Tasty Bite's strong product development pipeline, flavor expertise, and strategic sourcing of quality ingredients throughout our portfolio.”

Tasty Bite’s products are manufactured in Pune, India and are exported largely to the United States. It has a subsidiary currently listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India that Mars Food said would continue to be listed after the acquisition.

“We're thrilled to be joining the Mars Food family,” Tasty Bite CEO Ashok Vasudevan said. “The nearly quarter century of uninterrupted growth of Tasty Bite since its inception was powered by our deep commitment to sustainable practices and to the pursuit of consumer delight. Mars is one of the largest food companies in the world and a recognized leader and role model for corporate sustainability. Mars Foods' strong brand portfolio, global infrastructure, and shared values makes it well-positioned to take Tasty Bite to the next level.”