BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec – Colabor Group Inc., a wholesaler and distributor of food and non-food products serving retail and foodservice markets in Quebec, Ontario and the Atlantic provinces, is purchasing the assets of Viandes Décarie Inc., a leading wholesaler and distributor of meat and meat products. Colabor's second acquisition in less than 12 months in the center-of-the-plate meal solutions category will allow it to increase product offerings and its customer base. The transaction is expected to close in January.

In the 12 months ended April 30, Viandes Décarie achieved sales of approximately $70 million (US$68 million). The company is a wholesaler and distributor of fresh and frozen beef, veal, lamb, pork and poultry. It operates from a 27,000-square-foot warehouse at Anjou, Quebec. The company’s customer base includes foodservice distributors, food retailers and specialty butchers, primarily located in Quebec.

Viandes Décarie's has a federal permit allowing it to sell its products throughout Canada.

"The acquisition of Viandes Décarie is in keeping with Colabor's strategic objectives of broadening its product range and its customer base," said Gilles Lachance, Colabor president and chief executive officer. "This transaction will further enhance our offering in a growth niche and will allow us to increase our sales to existing customers while penetrating the specialty butcher market.”