Bunge North America, the North American operating arm of Bunge Ltd, has purchased the margarine assets of the C.F. Sauer Co. (CFS). The purchase includes the margarine plant of CFS subsidiary Dean Foods Co., Sandston, Va., and the margarine production and packaging assets at the CFS facility in New Century, Kan. Financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

The two facilities have an annual capacity of nearly 400 million pounds of margarine, with products ranging from 5 g portion cups that are used by restaurants to 1-ton totes sold to food processors.

"Adding C.F. Sauer's margarine assets to Bunge's business opens up several exciting innovation opportunities for our lower saturated and reduced trans fat products," said Rodney Perry, vice president and general manager, Bunge Oils, in a press release. "With the addition of the Sandston facility and its dedicated team, this new shipping location will help us better serve existing customers and reach out to new customers in an important market."

Bunge will begin operating the Sandston facility immediately. Bunge plans to relocate the margarine production and packaging assets from the New Century facility to other Bunge packaging plants. The Sandston plant currently operates with about 160 employees, most of whom Bunge will hire.