Worldwide Produce acquires foodservice distributor Valley Food Services

Worldwide Produce, a fresh produce and dairy distributor on the US West Coast, has acquired Valley Food Services, a foodservice distributor of fresh produce and dairy that caters to the Coachella Valley market.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Worldwide Produce has been a portfolio company of Sole Source Capital, an industrial-focused private equity firm, since 2019.

Valley Food Services was founded in 2001. Headquartered in Banning, California, the company mainly sells to the foodservice end market.

Its suite of fresh produce and dairy products includes avocados, tomatoes, leaf lettuce, and citrus.

Sole Source Capital portfolio company Worldwide Produce acquires Banning-based foodservice distributor Valley Food Services. Photo courtesy of diapicard from Pixabay.

Martin Parra — Valley Food Services founder said: “We are excited to join one of the largest independent foodservice distributors in Southern California.

“Valley will no doubt benefit from Worldwide’s scale, focus on operational excellence, and grower relationships. We look forward to continuing to provide quality products at excellent prices to the desert communities we have served for the past 20+ years.”

By acquiring Valley Food Services, the footprint of Worldwide Produce in the Coachella Valley is expected to be strengthened.

The deal marks the second acquisition for Worldwide Produce in the last three months. In April 2022, the fresh produce and dairy distributor acquired Santa Clara-based Chef’s Choice Produce, a foodservice distributor of fresh produce and dairy that caters to the Northern California market.

Todd Ferguson — Worldwide Produce CEO said: “Valley Food Services allows Worldwide to continue to expand into one of the region’s premier luxury destinations, the Coachella Valley.

“Worldwide’s operational and product sourcing expertise, combined with Valley’s physical proximity to and focus on the Coachella Valley, will allow both companies to continue to provide unparalleled service for our customers.”