Quirch Foods buys Butts Foods, expands distribution footprint

Food distribution company Quirch Foods has acquired Tennessee-based protein distributor Butts Foods for an undisclosed sum, in a move to expand its geographic footprint.

Established in 1935 as a family-run business, Butts Foods distributes products such as meat, fish and vegetables to national and independent grocery stores and regional distributors in the Southeast and Midwest US.

As part of the deal, Quirch Foods will acquire Butts’ five distribution facilities throughout Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. These will join Quirch Foods’ six other distribution facilities with over 700,00 square-feet of refrigerated warehouse space and a fleet of more than 1200 refrigerated trucks.

“This partnership represents a great opportunity for the team to continue to grow the business with more tools and support than ever before in our 85-year history. It also represents joining a company whose family values, history, culture, and vision are the same as ours,” said Raymond E Butts IV, president of Butts Foods.

The deal marks Quirch Foods’ first acquisition and furthers its geographic footprint, following its recent distribution centre opening in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Palladium Equity Partners-owned Quirch Foods distributes to large and independent retailers across the US, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The company is the exclusive distributor of the brands Chiquita, Panaemi, Kikiriquirch and Mambo.  

“Butts Foods has been providing quality service to their customers for decades and it was a natural fit to our distribution footprint,” said Frank Grande, Quirch Foods president.

He added: “Quirch Foods and Butts Foods will continue to focus on delivering exceptional service and support to our independent and national grocery customers with quality products including our company owned brands. We are excited to welcome the Butts Foods team to the Quirch Foods Family.”