Sep 24, 2004 11:38 AM, from staff and wire reports

Birds Eye Foods Inc, the Rochester NY-based manufacturer and marketer of frozen vegetables, has acquired California & Washington Co (C&W), a San Francisco-based marketer of frozen vegetables and fruits. This transaction expands Birds Eye’s presence in the western United States. Birds Eye will continue to market the company’s products under the C&W brand. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Under the guidance of Robert W Maier, C&W’s president, chairman, and chief executive officer since 1991, the company has number one market shares for frozen vegetable retail brands in California, the Pacific Northwest, and Arizona. C&W offers more than 60 frozen vegetable products.