Cerealto, the international food manufacturing group, has entered into a strategic partnership with Fresca Foods, the Colorado-based contract manufacturer specialising in shelf-stable snacks and baked goods.

The transaction brings together Cerealto's European manufacturing base of ten production centres with Fresca's 350,000 square feet of US manufacturing and warehouse space across the Denver and Boulder County region. The combined operation will support retail, foodservice and B2B customers across Europe and the Americas.

Expanding manufacturing footprint

Cerealto reported €526 million in sales for 2024, representing 6% growth year-on-year, with production reaching 243,000 tonnes. The group operates facilities in Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Mexico, producing biscuits, breakfast cereals, cereal bars, rice and corn cakes, snacks, pasta and gluten-free bread for third-party brands and retailers.

Fresca Foods operates nearly 20 manufacturing lines servicing bars, granola cereals and baked goods. Founded in 1989, the company has focused on natural, organic and better-for-you products, with more than 400 employees across its Colorado sites. Both facilities hold SQF certification.

Investment trajectory

Between 2022 and 2024, Cerealto invested €100 million in capacity expansion, efficiency improvements, innovation and acquisitions. The group has earmarked €50 million for further investment in 2025, targeting industrial modernisation, sustainability initiatives and process digitisation.

The partnership with Fresca follows Cerealto's 2024 acquisition of Hill Biscuits, the Manchester-based manufacturer established in 1855. That transaction strengthened Cerealto's position in the UK biscuits segment and extended its reach into Ireland and export markets.

Fresca Foods adds complementary product development capabilities through the Fresca Food Lab, which offers outsourced ideation and product development services for consumer packaged goods brands.

Operational metrics

Cerealto's 2024 recurrent EBITDA reached €47.3 million, up 74% from the previous year. The company employs more than 3,200 people across its manufacturing sites, with a 14% inclusion rate for people with disabilities.

Current packaging specifications show 91% recyclable materials across Cerealto's product range. The group recorded a 10.5% reduction in CO₂ emissions per tonne produced and has achieved "Zero Waste to Landfill" certification at its Spanish facilities.

Both companies operate with renewable energy commitments. Cerealto is transitioning to 100% renewable energy sources, whilst Fresca's facilities are already 100% powered by renewable energy credits. Cerealto has set targets for a 15–20% reduction in water footprint and 95% recyclable materials by 2027.

Cerealto donated over 223 tonnes of food to social initiatives in 2024. Fresca allocates a portion of revenue from every case shipped to its Community Fund, which supports non-profit organisations addressing food insecurity in the Boulder and Denver areas.

The partnership positions both manufacturers to serve contract manufacturing clients across multiple countries, with combined expertise in European and North American regulatory requirements and distribution networks.