metro >> on the cover
DEBBIE AND JERRY GLASSMANJ
Sold!
ON YOUR
65TH ANNIVERSARY!
Campbell Soup Co. buys
Garden Fresh.
Ryan Fishman I Contributing Writer
Health and Happiness to you always!
Love,
Lenore, George, Judy and Our Crew!
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Annette and Jack Aronson
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Memory Care Community
24005 West 13 Mile Road
Bingham Farms, MI 48025
(248) 644-8100
10 June 25 • 2015
JN
While Campbell and Garden Fresh
proudly announced the sale earlier
this month, it was no easy decision
for the Aronsons. Their partner Dave
Zilko, vice chairman of operations,
recalled watching Annette Aronson
break into tears when the initial offer
was made to purchase their family
business.
The Aronson's son Trevor, 41, will
stay on as director of operations for
the Ferndale facility, but told the
Detroit Free Press he was "sad to think
about one day walking into the plant
and actually not [being] an owner:'
But with sadness, there's also
excitement, he explained, adding they
expect Campbell to take the company
"to the next level ... it's going to be
big:'
Following the sale, the Aronsons
plan to continue their community
involvement by establishing their own
private foundation.
Campbell Fresh expects $1 billion
in additional sales from the aquisi-
tion. Annual sales for the Camden,
N.J.-headquartered Campbell Soup
are more than $8 billion. In 2012,
the Campbell Fresh division acquired
Bolthouse Farms, another Michigan
company, known for its production
of dressings, juices and smoothies,
though those operations were relo-
cated from the west side of the state
to California.
Aronson and Zilko have said
Campbell Fresh has no plans to move
operations outside of Michigan, but
a key goal for the company's growth
model is to broaden sales beyond the
Midwest to both coasts.
Within just hours of the public
announcement, Campbell began
extending offers to current employ-
ees for hire under the new corporate
umbrella. Employees are expected to
see a more generous benefit package
and ensured long-term job security
with the support of a Fortune 500
company. Campbell has announced it
hopes to double Garden Fresh sales in
just three years.
The sale is expected to finalize in
August. Campbell will fund the acqui-
sition in an all-cash deal.
❑