Mergers

Following two consecutive years of growth, merger and acquisition activity in the food industry declined in 2008, with 35 less mergers completed last year than in 2007, a decline of approximately 8.5%. Mergers that were not completed by year’s end totaled 44, about a 26.7% decrease from 2007. The majority of activity fell under the food processor category umbrella, with most mergers and acquisitions involving Multi-product processors.