Aug 1, 2009 2:20 PM

Omstead Foods Ltd announced that Cavendish Farms, one of North America’s leading processors of frozen potato products, has purchased the Appetizer division of Omstead Foods.

Cavendish Farms, a member of the Irving Group of Companies, has acquired the Omstead Appetizer brands and processing equipment and will continue to operate out of the former Omstead plant in Wheatley, Ontario, Canada.

Omstead’s national fruit processing and packaging operations, including its operations in western Canada (Snowcrest Packers), are not affected by this announcement.

A Canadian food processor of frozen fruit for domestic and international customers, Omstead was established in 1911. The company markets its products within the retail and foodservice channels under the Omstead, Snowcrest, and Blend Ease brands.

Omstead is owned by TriWest Capital Partners, a Calgary-based equity partner. Tri West purchased Omstead in 2003 from H J Heinz. Omstead also owns and operates Snowcrest Packers. Founded in 1959, Snowcrest is western Canada’s largest independent processor of packaged frozen fruit to the retail and foodservice industries.