The deal with Nagatanien will allow Chaucer to expand into new and existing global markets, according to the company.
The Tokyo-based firm produces instant and freeze-dried Japanese food, including sushi seasoning, fried rice and noodles.
The acquisition also opens opportunities for Nagatanien to expand into the UK market and gain access to clean-label products.
Chaucer’s current management team will be retained and ceo Andy Ducker will continue to lead the group.
Continue to lead
Ducker commented: “[Nagatanien] are a longstanding business and the leading brand in the Japanese market for premixed, instant and freeze-dried food.
“From inception, Nagatanien’s corporate philosophy … is perfectly aligned with our own attitude of producing healthy ingredients to meet the growing trend towards healthy eating and nutrition.
Ducker said he anticipated there would be cross-selling and growth opportunities for both parties and looked forward to working with the Nagatanien team.
The deal comes after Chaucer posted a 17% increase in sales and 20% growth in profits over the past year to October, driven by expansion into the US.
New product innovation
The Hull-based firm said new product innovation in its freeze-dried produce offering helped build new contracts in Europe and Asia with a number of food and beverage companies, while its bread division also had a strong year.
Chaucer produces ingredients for food manufacturers globally, including Kellogg, Nestlé and Unilever.
Meanwhile, the sale of a West Midlands bacon producer has saved the jobs of 13 employees, after the company entered liquidation last month (November 25) – partly due to rising costs caused by the UK’s Brexit vote.