The Van Drunen Family of Companies is taking a majority stake in SouthAm Freeze Dry, a freeze-dried fruit supplier to many global consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies.
 
Headquartered just outside of Chile’s capital, Santiago, the company has strong competitive advantages that come from its ability to leverage direct, local access to the rich farming output of Chile and the South American supply chain. SouthAm combines a local focus with an international reach. 
 
“This partnership will better position both SouthAm and Van Drunen Farms, offering unique and substantial benefits for our customers,” said Kevin Van Drunen, co-owner and president of Van Drunen Farms and board member of SouthAm. “It is exciting to see our global platform expanded with a partner that shares our long-term vision to be a global leader in freeze-dry ingredients and has a truly international reach.”
 
The investment in SouthAm provides Van Drunen Farms, as well as its dietary supplement company FutureCeuticals, a competitive advantage for South and Central American fruits in the functional food and supplement spaces.
 
This partnership also allows SouthAm to continue its innovation, which is focused on the development of native herbal, fruit, and vegetable ingredients. This new relationship allows both organizations to enhance their access to global supply, which benefits each of their respective customer bases.
 
“We are thrilled to take this next step as a company,” said Boris Hirmas, founder and chairman of the Board of SouthAm. “We started in 2004 with a mission to create a world-class business to showcase Chile’s unique capacity for premium quality manufacturing and food products. With that initial goal achieved, we are now ready to partner with Van Drunen Farms to bring this message and these products to the world.”
 
“It is truly a win for us, for our Van Drunen partners, and above all for our customers. Ultimately, with our combined resources we have now broadened our direct supply chain to both hemispheres, making us both more efficient and effective,” Hirmas said.
 
“What is truly unique about this partnership, and something that is very important to us at Van Drunen Farms, is that both SouthAm and Van Drunen Farms are family owned companies,” said Jeff Van Drunen, co-owner of Van Drunen Farms, president of FutureCeuticals, and vice chairman of the Board of SouthAm. “Once all of the due diligence and pro forma is complete, it’s these kinds of intangibles that transform a project from a fine idea that makes good financial sense into something intrinsically great for everyone involved. Culture and values matter to us, and SouthAm aligns perfectly with who we are as people, a family, and as a corporate entity.”