SAO PAULO, Feb. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Arlon Group (Arlon), the food and agriculture investment firm focused on investing in the Americas, announced that it has acquired a significant stake in Grano Alimentos S.A. (Grano), based in Serafina Correa, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Grano is a leading manufacturer of packaged frozen vegetable products, selling to food service, retail, private label and industrial clients throughout Brazil. As part of the investment, Charlie Conner and Bruno Silva have joined the Company’s board of directors as Arlon’s representatives.

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The Company was founded in 2000 by Edi Deitos to add value to primary production by offering high quality products to the consumer. Today the Company has a significant market share in Brazil in the fast-growing frozen vegetable market. Grano uses a semi-integrated sourcing model and sources vegetables year-round from local producers in the region. The Company is known for its strong brand, the quality and reliability of its product offering, and the reach of its distribution.

Roberto Denuzzo, a seasoned food executive who brings more than 25 years of experience in the sector, including roles at Bunge and Sadia, has joined the Company as CEO, and Gustavo Cochlar, a finance executive with extensive food and beverage experience gained at Ambev, has joined as CFO. Founder and former CEO, Edi Deitos, will remain on the board of directors and will also be responsible for a variety of strategic projects at the Company. Ricardo Zortea, Director of Operations, and other key executives at Grano will continue to lead Grano’s operations.

“Arlon brings significant operating experience and networks in food and agriculture in Brazil. They fully understand Grano’s business, and importantly, are fully committed to supporting Grano’s growth. I am very pleased with the relationship that Arlon, Roberto, Gustavo and I have developed, and I look forward to their important contribution as we grow Grano,” said Edi Deitos.

“Grano is an exceptional company with a talented team. Edi created an excellent business, and I am excited at the outstanding opportunity to further develop the Company. I have gotten to know the Arlon team well, and I am thrilled to partner with them and confident that we will, together with Edi, Gustavo and Ricardo, lead Grano to significant growth and expansion,” said Roberto Denuzzo, CEO of Grano.

Charlie Conner, Principal, speaking on behalf of Arlon, said, “Edi has built a business that is focused on quality and is a leader in its industry. The Brazilian frozen vegetable market is poised to grow to meet the increasing needs of food service providers and consumers alike for the quality and the convenience of prepared frozen vegetables. The Company’s unique sourcing capabilities and excellent relationships with local farmers make it well-positioned to meet this need. We are thrilled to partner with Edi, Roberto, Gustavo and Ricardo, who are first class executives, and excited to bring to Grano the capital and other resources to allow it to be the premier provider of frozen vegetables in Brazil.”

About Arlon Group
Arlon Group is the food and agriculture investment firm with a global network that supports investments across the entire food supply chain in middle-market businesses in the Americas. Arlon’s investment focus comes from its roots, which began with its founding investor, Continental Grain Company, a 200-year-old leader in the food and agriculture space. The firm’s investment professionals are experts in global food and agriculture investing and work collaboratively across geographies to identify and back growth-oriented, middle-market businesses that benefit from the investment team’s shared knowledge and resources. Arlon Group has approximately $980 million in assets under management and is headquartered in New York, with a presence in São Paulo, Brazil and in Beijing and Hong Kong, China through a local affiliate. For more information, visit www.arlongroup.com.