Bunge North America has purchased the assets of Mid-Atlantic Vegetable Shortening, Inc. in Kearny, N.J.

Bunge North America has purchased the assets of Mid-Atlantic Vegetable Shortening, Inc. in Kearny, N.J.

St. Louis-based Bunge North America, the North American operating arm of Bunge Ltd., intends to retain a majority of the employees currently working at the plant. It also will retain Calvin and Perry Theobald, the two founders of Mid-Atlantic.

Mid-Atlantic is an edible oil packaging business that services bakery, food processor and foodservice customers in the Northeastern United States. It packages liquid oils, shortenings, margarines and butter blends made from a variety of oils. Mid-Atlantic also packages rehydrated garlic and other spice products.

"Purchasing Mid-Atlantic’s assets enables Bunge to increase our oil and shortening packaging capacity in the Northeastern corridor, which is the country’s largest edible oil market," says Rodney Perry, vice president and general manager, Bunge Oils. "Mid-Atlantic’s location also allows Bunge to more effectively serve our existing customers in this region and reach new customers."